Which college is my best choice?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi. First off thank you for taking the time to listen to me and help me. I need more advice than just my parents who think that college is the same as it was when they were in school.</p>

<p>My name is Sebastian, i'm hispanic, a senior in high school, and I live near Sacramento, CA. Currently I am three for three on college admissions but the only two UC's I applied to were CAL and LA so I don't expect to get in. The colleges I have been admitted to are University of San Francisco, SF state and Arizona state. Obviously I know that they aren't the BEST schools, but they were the most practical, the reason I didn't apply to other UC's was that were were going to end up being to expensive for me to go there and I don't want to bury myself in debt unless it's for an amazing school. If I got into CAL or UCLA then obviously I would got there, but for the sake of optimal reality, I will say that I didn't get in.</p>

<p>So that leaves me we USF, SF state and ASU. I won't receive much money from my parents, as they really don't have much to give and they make too much money for me to get any from the government. In terms of scholarships, USF gave me $13,000 per year, which knocks the tuition down to around $26,000. If I were to go there, I would most likely live with a relative right outside the city at a minimal cost, which my parents would cover (around $300-$400 a month i'm guesstimating). ASU gave me an $11,500 scholarship which would bring tuition to in-state level essentially, around $12,000. But since I wouldn't live with family down in AZ, I have to factor in room and board which would be around $9,000.
SF State did not grant me any merit scholarships, at least to my knowledge as they don't have much, but my cost there would $7,000 + living with relative.</p>

<p>So cost wise the breakdown is...
USF- $30,000 living with relative
SF State- $10,000 living with relative
ASU- $22,000 living on campus</p>

<p>I suppose before I go any further I should tell what I plan to do in college. Well i'm a writer, and I want to double major in Marketing and Journalism. As having a full-time marketing job and a part-time journalism job would be ideal so I can make money doing something I enjoy while also pursuing my passion. Currently I am a staff writer over at Justblogbaby.com (you can check that out if you like), a website that coverage news and other related topics regarding the Oakland Raiders, and it gets a relatively good amount of hits so I already have some exposure in the sports writing world.</p>

<p>Things I look for in a school is how strong their programs are, the surrounding areas, internship opportunities, the look and feel of the campus and obviously the cost.</p>

<p>I would get a job to pay for my own personal expenses during the time I am in college, but like I said before, graduating in a pile of debt is not optimal for my future. I currently do have some work experience other than writing, as I have worked for KFC, Hollister and Big Spoon Yogurt before. This summer I will also be interning at my uncle's textile company in Italy. </p>

<p>The breakdown.</p>

<p>Cost:
SF State $
ASU $$
USF $$$</p>

<p>Program strength:
As far as my research has gone shows me that ASU and SF State have really good journalism programs while USF really isn't known for it, but USF and ASU have better marketing programs.</p>

<p>Internships:
Obviously being in San Francisco is a huge plus when it comes to trying to build a successful future as it has everything you could want. Also I have "hook ups" as some local companies that would help me snag a job or internship (My uncle is the sales manager at a Honda dealership, my aunt is a controller at a Mercedes Benz dealership and a family friend is high up there at the Charles Schawb in the financial district of San Francisco. ASU is in Tempe, and I know they have amazing internship opportunities for their journalism students, but I don't need internships for journalism, mostly for marketing.</p>

<p>Surrounding areas and feel:
USF takes the cake in this hands down, i'm in love with the location and the campus in general, it is in the heart of San Francisco in close proximity to everything, it has the best weather in down, top notch facilities and beautiful in every single way. SF state is on the border of SF, with the worst weather in town, although the campus is surrounded with trees and it is still quite pretty. They have a brand new library and wow, it's stellar really, and that's important because I love books and appreciate a fantastic library. The areas near it include a mall, which could provide work if I really needed and shopping on a breeze. ASU is the wild card, because well I hate Arizona weather, it's bloody hot and dry. I'd get used to it though, as the heat here is not much worse, but just more humid. I don't know much about Tempe, but nothing can compare to San Fran. I'm into all kinds of activities, ranging from clubs to rock climbing, are just walking around the city and exploring. But the place that ASU takes the top spot for is that it as the all around "college feel", in that there are frats, great sports, i'd live in a dorm, parties, all that typical college stuff. Although I wouldn't be around much family where as in the bay area I have all my family where I could easily just crash at or come over to eat or something in that nature if I ever needed help somehow.</p>

<p>So that is basically it, i'm really torn and don't know what to do, right now i'm leaning SF State even though it doesn't have the best programs and location and feel, I think it would give me the most bang for my buck. The only thing stopping me from going to USF is the cost, as I am in love with that school. ASU would be super ideal if I lived in Arizona, but it has a nice combination of SF state and USF, but in a less optimal location and less opportunities, but i'd be getting that "college feel". </p>

<p>If you made it this far, thank you for reading and please comment below on your thoughts! Thank you again!</p>

2

<p>let me be brief: SF State. You don’t have the money to do anything else, and nobody takes on 20-30K/year to go to college. Whatever you do, do it well.</p>

3

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<p>How much would you have to self-fund, versus getting family contributions?</p>

<p>$10,000 is probably the maximum expectation of a full time student self-funding through direct loans and work earnings, although some students more conservatively want to have a lower obligation while others are capable of earning more through work. Taking more loans than the direct loans ($5,500 frosh year, increasing to $7,500 senior year; not all at subsidized interest rates) is generally not considered a good idea.</p>

4

<p>I wouldn’t have to self fund any part of the loan for tuition costs until I graduate, my parents would pay for it when I’m in school.</p>

5

<p>SF State is an excellent school, under-rated on prestige-obsessed CC.
It is an excellent bargain, best bang for your buck as it were.</p>

<p>Little known facts: co-inventor of the first computer microprocessor was an undergrad at SFSU. First discovery of planets outside our solar system was done by SF State professors and M.S. students. SFSU has top-notch communications, journalism, theater, broadcast & electronic arts.</p>

6

<p>@harvard<em>and</em>berkeley Thanks for that insight, I didn’t know that! Yes, I was aware they have fantastic programs for those that you mentioned, which is a big factor to why I wanted to go there, the only iffy is if their marketing program is strong enough.</p>

7

<p>SFSU has been really important to the history of the city and of the country. There’s an official history of this often ground-breaking school here:</p>

<p>[SFSU</a> Centennial History: Long Narrative of SF State](<a href=“http://www.sfsu.edu/~100years/history/long.htm]SFSU”>SFSU Centennial History: Long Narrative of SF State)</p>

<p>It was really important in the 1950s to American literature and arts and the Beat Movement, for example. It was really important to the sixties in offering academic support for that cultural development with its Psychedelic Research Institute and Experimental College. To the fine arts, it continues to be important. When it hasn’t been in the forefront of American higher education, it has been an important model for what a city college can be. So its a school with a great history. Have I over-used important?</p>

8

<p>Maybe just a tad, but i’ll definitely read that history narrative, thanks!</p>

9

<p>It makes very little sense to go into $120,000 worth of debt to go to USF. Similar issue with ASU. $88,000 in debt is better than USF but not a good idea.</p>

<p>SFSU is a great university; you’re saving money by living with your relative and $10,000 is an actual doable amount of money. Half of that can be covered with Stafford loans and the other half would have to be covered somehow. But you would still come out with only about $40,000 in debt, which makes far more sense.</p>

<p>The other things you cite kind of don’t even matter, because a college graduate can’t expect to be able to repay $90-120K. I’m assuming that your parents are agreeing to co-sign loans for you given what you said in post #4; this is a terrible idea. My husband’s lovely grandmother co-signed for him to borrow money to attend a very expensive private college that he initially loved; he racked up six figures of debt and regrets it very, very much, and wishes that someone had sat down and had a frank talk with him when he was 19-21 and explained that this was financial suicide.</p>

10

<p>Which is why I am most likely going to SFSU unless I somehow get a lot of scholarships.</p>

11

<p>bump, would like some opinions.</p>

12

<p>At 2:00 in the morning on the east coast? Do you think we’re all teenagers?</p>

<p>OP, the thread is winding down. It appears after #10 that the matter is pretty well settled. Unless you have some other question, you might not get any more responses.</p>

<p>btw, how come you’re not up at 8:22AM to answer this post? 8+O</p>

13

<p>I wouldn’t have to self fund any part of the loan for tuition costs until I graduate, my parents would pay for it when I’m in school.</p>

<p>That is irrelevant. the fact that you’d have these loans AT ALL to have to pay at anytime is a BAD idea…because it’s so not necessary. </p>

<p>I don’t think you have any idea of how burdensome debt can be…even once graduated and working. When you’re working, your money is going to be going towards your living expenses, taxes (HIGH as a single person), and hopefully savings for a future home. AVOID DEBT.</p>

14

<p>The college you can afford without taking on burdensome debt is the best choice. In this case SF State seems to be the way to go. It sounds like you know this already.</p>