<p>UCSB (as commuter)
South Dakota State University (w/ WUE and scholarship)
University of South Dakota (w/ WUE and scholarship)
Louisiana State University (w/ scholarship)
University of Alabama (w/ scholarship)
University of North Dakota (w/ WUE and scholarship)</p>
<p>they are dirt cheap for me (<$13000), but are good deals as they offer comprehensive programs...i think i'll pay using unsub loans and ill try to get a job to loosen pressure on my parents</p>
<p>what do you think?</p>
<p>Looks good to me. You are wise to have a number of safety options. If your ship comes in on your reach schools, you can go aboard there. But if it does not happen, you can take care of yourself.</p>
<p>Sounds very good provided that you’d actually be willing to attend all of these. No point in applying if it isn’t going to happen.</p>
<p>should i even bother applying to financial reaches?</p>
<p>To what end? Would you be happy at the schools listed above? And can you afford them? If so then follow your plan. I think I would just upset myself if I got into a school I “MIGHT” like better and then realized I couldn’t afford it.</p>
<p>If there is a school you are interested in AND you are a good candidate with the right stats, geographic diversity, bring something compelling AND you can walk away if you get accepted but the aid doesn’t work out AND it’s a college that give merit scholarships then I would say go ahead and apply as you have nothing to loose and potentially something to gain. If you are the type of person that cannot walk away from something you want then stick with your original list.</p>
<p>My son just pitched the accept letters from the schools that offered no merit money and were full price. Didn’t give them a thought. They were long shots anyways for merit money and were even reaches admission wise. Had he been stuck on one, it would have made me sad too, and I would have wanted to help him go there. We moms are that way.</p>
<p>But he was happy with his riches. He did not get quite what he wanted from his first choice school; it was one of the lower awards, so he spoke to the admissions director, told him what he had in hand, and the he really wanted to go there but needed a bit more to make it work. They gave it to him. Still the the best award, but made it doable within budget. </p>
<p>But he could have focused on his acceptances to schools that are very popular here and where a number of his friends were going. They were full freight and very expensive. </p>
<p>So I agree with Momofthreeboys. No reason why you can’t give reach schools, both in selectivity and cost, a shot.</p>
<p>*should i even bother applying to financial reaches? *</p>
<p>Huh? </p>
<p>Considering that you’ve said that your EFC is going to be $70k+ and your parents won’t commit to paying ANYTHING, your best bets are going to be your financial safeties.</p>
<p>your “reach” schools are going to give you zilch. You can apply to some to see what happens, but those are the unlikely schools (because of an unaffordable EFC and good, but not stellar stats). Your financial safeties are your likely schools.</p>
<p>What about Santa Barbara City College for 2 years, then transfer to UCSB?</p>
<p>That’s an option, but will still require a commuting experience. I think the OP is hoping for a residential experience to feel more connected to the school.</p>
<p>Also, I don’t know if the OP has an interest in a rah-rah spirited campus, but I don’t think he’d get that at SBCC or UCSB.</p>
<p>He would at SBCC…it’s quite unique in that regard. The campus is drop dead gorgeous with a mix of older buildings and new construction. When you go to the football games you look at the field and the ocean at the same time (if you sit on the side of the field closer to campus. Housing costs are very high for SBCC students if they want to dorm. The dorms are private and in Isle Vista where teh UCSB dorms are located and several years ago the costs were in the $10,000 range. Still if the OP is in state his tuition costs will be lower at SBCC so tuition + dorm experience might still be a bargain…</p>
<p>I’ve been to SBCC…in fact I’ve taken a summer class there. It’s kinda more vibrant than a typical CC, but it still has that “commuter” feel. And yes, the campus is quite pretty :)</p>
<p>The main reason I don’t want to go to SBCC is because it’s so hard to get into classes now…half the classes would be full a week before most people can add them to their schedule, and some necessary classes in some majors are only offered once every 1.5 to 2 years. If I don’t stay on top of everything, it would be difficult to transfer in two years</p>
<p>Also, transfer students who transfer into engineering never seem finish their BS in two years at the university. So in the end, it might be better financially for me to start at a four-year college.</p>
<p>Finally, I can’t realistically do a minor or a double major if I start at a two-year college. I want to have that option open.</p>
<p>any more opinions?</p>
<p>I haven’t followed your situation closely, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with applying to a few financial reaches, if you can afford the application fees. Also if you can convince yourself that it’s a long shot for you to go to these schools. If there is any chance that your parents will come around and decide that they can pay for your education, then you might have a few more options come next spring.</p>
<p>Good for you for doing all the research and making plans up front to ensure that you will have some where affordable to attend college next year.</p>