UD is my number one, but how on Earth can I pay???

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Delaware
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<p>This school has been my number one choice since last July when I visited. I got accepted with a $10,000 Udel Scholarship. As greatful (and I mean GREATFUL) as I am, I still cannot afford $30,000 a year (assuming it averages to be about $40,000 more or less total per year). Unfortunately, In my blind excitement after I visited, I had my heart set on UDel. I loved absolutely everything about the school! Yeah I saw the prices, but it never really HIT me until now. Why is this so expensive??? I thought this was supposed to be one of those good AND affordable schools for both in-state and OOS (me). Now, they do not seem to be any different than the other schools similar to them, money-wise. I know I will have to take out lots of loans (and this is why I am freaking out), but I most certainly cannot take out THAT much. It's the loan payments in the end that I'm freaking out over. And let's say I stay off campus my last two years, I still cannot afford to pay tuition AND rent all by myself. I'll still need loans!!! AHHHHHH</p>

<p>I'll be switching my major to Ecology too, and they make nothing, all in the hopes of getting into a good Graduate program in Evolutionary Biology.... MORE LOANS. </p>

<p>How is any of this possible and why so much "stressure" (my new word) on young people??? Does this country NOT want us to help it prosper in the future? I know I certainly cannot help it if I'm drowning in loans.</p>

<p>Anyway, I don't want to go anywhere else, but what am I to do? My family cannot do a thing, and I really wish I reveived some grants or FAFSA awards :( I can't eat or sleep over this and have burst into tears in an anxiety attack for two nights in a row, since I found out I was accepted. I should be happy, but I've never felt more miserable in my life :'(</p>

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<p>There really is no other option. Loans. Or don’t go to the school.</p>

<p>If it is that big of a deal, and you can’t handle it, go to county college or a state-school. That’s what they’re there for.</p>

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<p>zuzu - I completely understand. Just remember, what you are payoing $$ for is not an experience, or an atmosphere, or anything else. you are paying for an education. Not a true commodity, but today, definately a BA is almost. Do not stretch, kill or sink yourself. Of you cannot afford, it is like that prada purse or jimmy choo shoes. It is what it is. Expensive education at a price. Choose wisely.</p>

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<p>What I find amazing is that my child did not get a scholarship and this person did who doesn’t know how to spell “grateful”. Sorry, don’t mean to be mean, but wow…</p>

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<p>Yes, after I posted this I knew something looked wrong about “grateful,” but given my current mental state, I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT SPELLING. Everyone else understood the point I was trying to get across. Do I feel dumb now? Certainly. Do I appreciate you calling me out on it and comparing scholarships based upon a single mispelling? Certainly not. So, you may not have meant to be mean, but…you were, and it just added insult to injury because I have never had more stress in my life. :(</p>

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<p>I am so sorry. Please accept my apology. If I knew how to delete the post I would. We, like you, are very stressed out and certainly should not have taken it out on you. We wish you nothing but the best.</p>

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<p>I am so glad to see maxstress follow up with that apology. Kudos to you for that. And ZuzuTweet - I also wish you the very best!</p>

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<p>I am not one to hold grudges ^-^ And I completely understand the stress we are all feeling right now with paying for college. It truly is not fair what we must go through whether it is me, or you for your child. And as we wait for it to get fair (I am optimistic that it will one day), we can all be stressed and in debt together! XD</p>

<p>daybreak- Thank you very much! I know it will work out in the end, it always does :)</p>

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<p>ZuzuTweet - indeed a very classy response. Good for you! You will figure it out I’m sure…</p>

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<p>To begin with you don’t have to attend Winter Session every year, I’ll bet most UD don’t. Maybe only once. So that’s a savings of about $6k a year. And if you can work during Winter Session and live at home you can even make it a net gain. Then there’s working over the summer and getting a work study job while at school.</p>

<p>You might also work this summer for Obama to be reelected who would probably push for more student education and financial support. For all his expressed religiousity, Heaven help us if Santorum or for that matter any Republican is elected.</p>

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<p>I do not believe that the $40,000 includes Winter Session. Please correct me if I’m wrong, but with my D’s Estimated Financial Overview, it only mentions fall and spring terms and $40,000</p>

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<p>ZuzuTweet: I know it is tough and I do really feel your pain but give yourself some credit for understanding the reality of your situation. Many students don’t understand this until it is too late (and end up defaulting on their loans, which haunts their lives for years). IMO graduating undergraduate college with $120,000 due in loans is not worth attending any school in the country, especially if you plan on going to Grad school after this. I think it would be in your best interest to attend school in a much more cost effective manner. Perhaps 2 years at a County College followed by 2 years at your local state university (and many do give good scholarship assistance to students who do well in CC (which I’m sure you would do). You would end up with much much less undergraduate debt and still be in a much better position to take out loans for grad school. I would urge you to remain “smarter” than many of your fellow applicants who just act on their acceptance emotions and end up regretting it later. Again I feel your pain and I wish there was a better solution to your dilemma. Hang in there. I wish you the best. I firmly believe it will work out for you if you keep your head on straight.</p>

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<p>I’m with mwallen on this one. Sadly, we can’t always get what we want. I’m still living at home because my parents are nice enough to let pay my loans and not rent. Some of my friends are really struggling with loans that may go on forever. I am so happy I went to UD but I agree that no place is worth 100K in loans.</p>

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<p>Zuzu, my heart goes out to you! I know that you are very stressed out right now and that you have your heart set on Delaware but please do not go into heavy debt to attend. Last year we were going through the stress of all this stuff when our first was applying to colleges. Our son attends a state university that we can afford and he is very happy there. </p>

<p>I can name on both hands his friends who went to expensive private or out-of-state public schools and they are heavily in debt. Some of them have dropped out and are now at community colleges. The stress of owing so much money takes a toll on a family especially in this uncertain economy.</p>

<p>Please DO NOT go into debt or put your parents into debt to go to colleges when you may have other options. I agree with the other poster that no school is worth going to if you are going to graduate $120,000 in debt. Especially if you are planning on a major that as you say, “makes nothing”</p>

<p>My son is a freshman at Pitt. That is in-state for us. We told him he could not apply to schools that we could not afford. It was much too painful when we saw his friends getting accepted to schools that they desperately wanted to go to but could not afford. Reality stinks. I wish you the best of luck on your decision.</p>

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<p>For a useful degree from a quality college, it is reasonable to take out about $24,000 of federally subsidized student loans. No one should take out more than $50,000 of debt for a bachelors degree. Remember that after the first $24,000 or so of loans, the interest is no longer subsidized while you are in college. That interest multiplies. Private loans can also have unpleasant terms. </p>

<p>Unless Congress acts within the next few months, interest rates on new federal student loans will double. </p>

<p>Even if you are not eligible for work study, a student can seek out an on-campus job during the school year.</p>

<p>Also, most families are eligible for a $2,500 per year federal tax credit per college student, for up to 4 years. That should be factored into net costs.</p>

<p>As noted above, it is common for students to go to a college they can’t afford for 2 years and then transfer to a lower quality college. It is much more practical to attend a cheaper college for 2 years, and then take the more specialized upper level courses and get your degree from the quality college. </p>

<p>In the intro classes, sometimes the teaching is actually better at the cheaper colleges, particularly if the class sizes are much smaller.</p>

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<p>(These yearly prices are assuming a steady -and kind- increase in interest, Obama’s threat working, and an article I read about UDel not wanting to turn away its students with tuition costs)</p>

<p>First Year: $40,000 (on campus)
Second Year: $41,000 (on campus)
Third Year: $28,000 (off campus)
Fourth Year: $28,000 (off campus)</p>

<p>*I kept tuition the same last two years because I hope with all my heart UD won’t let their OOS tuition get that close to $30,000 (they’d practically be a private school then).</p>

<p>*This is also assuming I can find an apartment for 2 years AND afford monthly rent.</p>

<p>The total estimated cost for my attendance is $137,000</p>

<p>Assuming I can keep a “B” (I’d never let myself get anything less) I can subtract $40,000 from that amount. Leaving me at $97,000.</p>

<p>If I work this summer, this winter, and the summers and winters to come almost full time, I could probably put about $8,000 towards it. Leaving me at $89,000. (I hope I can get a job).</p>

<pre><code> -I would like to do Summer or Winter sessions to ensure that I graduate in 4 years, this of course though, is extra -_- sigh Why are these places like money black-holes??? I just don’t get the world! Oops going on a tangent, let’s proceed…
</code></pre>

<p>If my mom, whom I know lives check-to-check, and my dad, who pretends to be poor, can work together for a change and conjure up $2500 each per semester ($5,000 per year) I can get it down to $69,000</p>

<p>Not sure how much the average student makes in scholarships, but I applied for a few and I will continue to apply throughout my years. I also have grandparents who seem to be well-off because they are always travelling around the world lol.</p>

<p>My ultimate goal is to get my private loans under $50,000… is that bad for a school that I LOOOVVEEEE? I am going to pursue my Doctorate Degree straight through after I get my B.S… that takes about 5 years… can the loans be deferred until then? </p>

<p>I know it is still a lot of debt and may be easier to go to a cheaper state school, but (and I know I’ll get a lot of: “that’s a dumb way to look at it” from people) I want a college experience :frowning: I feel that I will get that %100 from Delaware. Also, I missed the deadline for Rutgers, which is the only in state school that has what I want (science program-wise), Montclair is practically a second high school for NJ students (all my friends are going there), and I want a change. All the other in-state schools are private and are more expensive than Delaware and do not offer the type of biology/ecology education I want. </p>

<p>This is such a stressful time, I am actually getting physically sick over it… I feel like I’m gonna die! >.<</p>

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<p>Ok, you are not going to die. You are going to keep moving forward and figure it out. Clearly you are very smart, which is more valuable than money. </p>

<p>I really do not know anything about this, so I am just throwing it out there in case it has not been mentioned before, or you haven’t thought about it. Have you looked into establishing residency in Delaware so that at some point you can get in-state tuition? </p>

<p>Additionally, I think that you should appeal your financial aid package with UD. I found UD’s financial aid people to be very accessible and understanding. I am sure that would not want to hear that you would be taking on that kind of debt. They may not be able to do anything about it, but it is a great way to start a conversaion with them, that is, “after reviewing my financial aid package and resources realistically available to me, it will mean that I will need to take out $x in loans. Is there anything that UD can do to mitigate that or at least provide counseling on the advisability of it?”</p>

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<p>My son is in the same boat. UD first choice for Chemical Engineering, but even with scholarship it is $18,000 more than UMBC. With an eventual PhD in his future, he has a long and expensive educational road ahead. As of July 2012 there aren’t subsidized loans for graduate school. It just doesn’t make sense to become burdened with debt for an undergraduate degree. </p>

<p>Did you check out Rowan? I know they have a good chemical engineering department and they were very inexpensive.</p>

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<p>I’m looking and applying for grants and scholarships like crazy. I suggest that you make a visit to your school counselor and see if they have anything regarding scholarships. You could check out fastweb, too.</p>

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<p>I was so glad to see the responses to this student’s unfortunate situation. My son is in the same situation. He had his heart set on UD from the moment he saw it, but he did not get enough scholarship money. We are also OOS. I think he is now beginning to realize that his other options are perfectly viable, and he/we won’t be in as bad financial straits as we would be if he were to go to UD. Also he needed to realize that the amount of the scholarship he was offered was directly related to how well he did in school. He did well, but could have done better if he had wanted to. I feel really bad, but it is time to move ahead and get excited about the other options. (He tried pleading his case to a financial advisor at UD, who had no sympathy.) Best of luck to all…</p>