<p>UCSC.
SJSU.
USF (university of san francisco)</p>
<p>It's basically the most difficult decision I've ever had to make.
Help, please?</p>
<p>What is your major and future career?</p>
<p>Are they all equally affordable? </p>
<p>Will any of them require you to take out loans? If so, how much for each?</p>
<p>Financially wise, I’ll be able to get loans/scholarships.
Which would be better for the future, career wise?</p>
<p>That depends on your major and career.
What do you want to major in? What do you want to do for a living?</p>
<p>Also…what do you mean by saying that you’ll be able to get loans and scholarships. Don’t you already know what your FA package is?</p>
<p>If you’ll need loans for more than $5500, you may have trouble.</p>
<p>I’m interested in a variety of things, which makes this even harder on me. 
Engineering-SJSU would be best at.
Business = all.
Social Sciences = all.
Environmental sciences = ucsc, usf.</p>
<p>SJSU would be a commuter school, and its apparently reallyy impacted…</p>
<p>Did you get any FA from any of the schools? If so, what did you get?</p>
<p>How will you get loans/scholarships for the rest. I think that is a bit naive unless you know how you would qualify.</p>
<p>I’ve been given money from the schools.
But I really don’t want that factor to dictate what school I go to. :/</p>
<p>^^^
That is very naive. if you have a gap at one or more of those schools, what good will it do to pick one only to find out in the fall that you don’t have enough to go?</p>
<p>Well I knoww I’ll figure out a way to make it work.
I’d much rather go somewhere that’ll better prepare me for the future, and for being able to find a job later on.</p>
<p>UCSC then…</p>
<p>But, don’t be surprised that you can’t figure out how to pay for it.</p>
<p>Not factoring cost I would say UCSC</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I’m concerned that her aid package from her schools already include max Stafford loans so I’m worried how she’ll cover the gap…if the gap is of any size.</p>
<p>How much will your parents pay?</p>
<p>Just to reinforce what mom2 said…I know you don’t want the decision to be about $, but it really has to be.</p>
<p>Since you “know you’ll find a way to make it work,” it would be a good idea to figure that out right now. The finances have to be viable before you look at other considerations.</p>
<p>although usf is offering me the most money ($40,000 NOT including FA) i don’t really think thats the best place for me anymore. </p>
<p>UCSC hasn’t offered as much money yet, but thats since there’s still stuff with the FA to be worked out with them.
and SJSU is appealing because its a commuter school.</p>
<p>What is your EFC from your FAFSA?</p>
<p>Are you saying that USF gave you a merit scholarship for $40k - not including FA? Did they give you any FA?</p>
<p>How much are your parents contributing?</p>
<p>USF has the highest ranking on princeton review for academics, but it doesn’t offer engineering and doesn’t have the name recognition of the other two schools. In short, you will get a great education there with small classes and great access to your professors, but it’s all moot if you think you might want engineering. If you DO want engineering you will need to start on that right away because it’s difficult to transfer into - so many prerequisites. UCSC has higher prestige because it’s part of the UC system, but for job placement in engineering it’s probably not worth the extra cost. SJSU will be your cheapest alternative for engineering and if you do well there you will find an engineering job in the Bay Area.</p>