What Should I do?

<p>Not many HS’s have serious AP Computer Science</p>

<p>CRD, it sure feels like OP doesn’t have much grounding, at all. That’s my specific first concern. You want him/her to have the better and more competitive class- without knowing what the basic skill set is. OP hasn’t revealed anything about that. Not what levels of math he has taken and what mastery (and the corresponding thinking, analytical and problem solving skills.) So, your advice is somewhat in its own vacuum. And, OP is showing some issues here also in the weighing of this decision. </p>

<p>You don’t know enough. We don’t. Earlier you wrote, well he did get accepted. We don’t know what that was based on, either. Good CS and CSE, we all know, starts with an adequate understanding of “what IS.” Before we go hopping off to solutions.</p>

<p>No one here knows if OP will finish this program, change his mind or be unable to tackle it. Forget the predictions of internships, salaries and how he rooms in Silicon Valley. (!)</p>

<p>I cant even check wit the professors if CSE 1102 is available but CSE 1010 is open and that opens the gateway to many other classes. If Cse 1102 is not available I can take it my sophomore year and use the spring semester to take some more general education class. My friend told me the first 2 years, there are no restrictions, so I should be safe. By sophmore year I hopefully will be able to get an internship. Now that I’m at home I can save a lot more.</p>

<p>One can get out of student or Plus debt if the borrower dies.</p>

<p>The CS major has a fairly deep prerequisite tree. </p>

<p>[Computer</a> Science](<a href=“http://www.cse.uconn.edu/cms/index.php/undergraduate-studies/major-programs-97494464/computer-science]Computer”>http://www.cse.uconn.edu/cms/index.php/undergraduate-studies/major-programs-97494464/computer-science)</p>

<p>Before you commit to Avery Point, go through the prior and current Storrs schedules in detail noting which classes are offered only in Fall, and which are offered only in Spring. </p>

<p>Then make a plan assuming that you start at Avery Point, using the prerequisite tree and make sure you will not lose a whole year because you were out of sync with the rest of your class. </p>

<p>It might work, but be very careful. It might not be a net plus. Also, some classes look oversubscribed. If you are out of sync, the classes you want may have fewer seats then on the normal schedule.</p>

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<p>Okay, CRD, the OP is looking at $12,360/annum in PLUS loans. What EXACTLY is the additional amount the “undergraduate dependent student may be eligible for”? (Note that eligibility is NOT guaranteed!)</p>

<p>Hint: The answer is is a number smaller than $12,360!</p>

<p>It looks like OP is on the way to a reasonable solution. I’m glad to see that the wisdom of CC was of value. One nice thing about going to the regional UConn campus vs. the CC is that OP will likely find a cohort of friends who will be transferring to the flagship campus together–which will make starting at a new school as a junior a lot more comfortable socially. (BTW, the Avery Point campus looks lovely!)</p>

<p>I’ll add that a lot of students in my area start at our local UConn branch campus and then move on to Storrs–it’s a very common trajectory.</p>

<p>OP how far is Storrs from your house?</p>

<p>If Avery Point is the nearest branch for OP, Storrs is probably about an hour away.</p>

<p>CRD: Never mind for a moment the cc argument. You’re encouraging this kid to bury his head in the sand and ignore the fact that the financial plan is built on a stack of cards. </p>

<p>Hi parents can’t afford to pay anything toward his college expenses which is an indication that they are either very low income, or that they’re already in over their heads with their current financial commitments, or both. So, one could deduce from this evidence that the chances of them being approved for 50K in Plus loans are almost nil. </p>

<p>With the OPs plan, if they are not approved, he absolutely can’t pay his tuition. This is NOT a remote possibility; it is, in all likelihood, what will happen. </p>

<p>What is your Plan B advice then?</p>

<p>I only guessed Avery Point because the OP said that the closest CC was Three Rivers. </p>

<p>However, it could be that Storrs is only 45 minutes. Is it worth spending 1.5 to 2 hours a day to commute to Storrs? It might be in the Spring semester in order not to get out of sync. Some nights in a local motel would also need to be budgeted for snowstorms. </p>

<p>I do agree that we’re making some progress. I think the scheduling issue is a large one though.</p>

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<p>If that’s what happens, then there really isn’t any choice is there. But why give up hope when it’s still pending.</p>

<p>Check out the following article
<a href=“http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/10/12/standards-tightening-federal-plus-loans[/url]”>http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/10/12/standards-tightening-federal-plus-loans&lt;/a&gt;
“According to Education Department standards, prospective borrowers can’t have any current accounts more than 90 days delinquent, or any foreclosures, bankruptcies, tax liens, wage garnishments or defaults within the past five years. But the department doesn’t look at prospective borrowers’ incomes or their current debt load, meaning that poor borrowers with little or no credit history can be approved.”</p>

<p>If they get one loan, I don’t see why they won’t get them all 4 years if payments are deferred.</p>

<p>“If they get one loan, I don’t see why they won’t get them all 4 years if payments are deferred.” </p>

<p>I don’t think you know how the PLUS loans work.</p>

<p>What part of that article was wrong?</p>

<p>I don’t think any part of the article was wrong.</p>

<p>“Ok guys Hopefully I can transfer to their regional campuses, thats half an hour away from my house, they provide the same courses and I have to only worry about 10 grand tuition. I can transfer over next year.”</p>

<p>Can you arrange to make this campus change NOW instead of waiting until you’ve spent a semester or a year at the main campus?? That is the question you should be asking. If you can reduce the housing costs by living at home and commuting, that would be a huge help for you.</p>

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<p>I’m sorry Scubasue, I don’t see the point that you are trying to make. </p>

<p>If they are denied PLUS loans, we have a whole different situation. UCONN would not be an option anyway. </p>

<p>If they are not denied PLUS loans, then they are credit worthy and should remain so for all four years to make the OPs college plans work. </p>

<p>What am I missing?</p>

<p>Happymom, that IS what the OP was looking into. OP needs to make sure the scheduling issue doesn’t cause him or her to be out of sync and lose a whole year. The savings is only a little over $6K according to the financial estimates at <a href=“http://www.collegeboard.org%5B/url%5D”>www.collegeboard.org</a>. I wouldn’t call that a huge help. It’s some help if it doesn’t cause more harm than good. Students who commute still eat, and have to pay commuting costs like gas, insurance and parking.</p>

<p>Please consider all the information in the article which indicates that 44% of prospective borrowers were denied the PLUS loans. If you conceded that a significant number (most?) of those applicants have more stable finances than the OPs, then it follows that the % of applicants in their more precarious circumstances (no resources at all) who are denied is MUCH higher than 44% (a number that is rising).</p>

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<p>56% of prospective borrowers were awarded the PLUS loans. It’s based on parents’ credit not their income. If the PLUS loans are denied, the OP needs a whole new plan. </p>

<p>Why bail now before they know?</p>

<p>It seems like the classes in Avery point are open and I can change campuses now. The thing with STorrs, is that its 48 mins away but one hour with traffic, and no one can drive me that far. Freshmens are not allow to drive in Storrs. I know one friend going to Averypoint and he said he can give me a ride and its 8 mins away from my moms work place so it will workout.</p>

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<p>It only takes 90 days for the OP’s parents to go from qualifying for PLUS loans to no longer qualifying. That’s not long. Again, I have NO knowledge of the parents’ financial condition . . . but it wouldn’t take much for family already in precarious financial straits to tumble over the edge.</p>