<p>get your app into uah today! </p>
<p>You sound like a very mature young man! Call UAH tomorrow and if it is too late this yr, ask them specifics about how to apply as a freshman next yr bc it is very important you maintain freshman status.</p>
<p>As long as s/he doesn’t take college classes they can apply as freshman, however they are still taking applications and they are known to come up with funds even after the deadline it seems, from reports here, @momom2collegekids posts all about it. Send the application now, like mom2 said today. Then call and let them know you can come if the aid is available, that you had to turn down an acceptance that turned out to be unaffordable and you found out about them. I would want them to see your profile and respond rather than be an anonymous person inquiring.</p>
<p>You just have to tell Florida Tech that, going over finances, it is unaffordable. You will likely lose your deposit, but that’s how it goes. Good luck. If UAH doesn’t work out and you have to apply next year you can look for options that are better financially and still get you where you need to go. UAH will be one, maybe UA and others.</p>
<p>If the OP’s objective is to do aerospace engineering, then UA-Tuscaloosa is not an option. It has an excellent engineering program, but it doesn’t offer AE. UAH does, and, because of its location in Huntsville, it offers an AE student resources far beyond what he or she might find elsewhere. It’s really an excellent choice . . . and if the student’s GPA and test scores are high enough to qualify him or her for both free tuition and free room & board, it’s one of the most affordable options out there!</p>
<p>@bibblezee - You should absolutely pick up the phone and call them TODAY! There are some very nice people in the UAH admissions office Tell them your GPA and test score and ask if it’s still possible to be awarded merit aid. And, as I said earlier, I believe they’ll consider test scores up to and including next month’s test . . . so, if that could get you a larger award, take the test again!</p>
<p>If you need to wait a year, please do not wait until December to apply. Applications open in August - get it in and get it done! Then you really will have a year off with nothing to worry about! :)</p>
<p>(The app is also ridiculously easy - you’ll have it done in under a half hour, and you’ll receive a decision within days!)</p>
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<p>UA does have Aerospace Engg…it is a Bachelors of Science in Aerospace engg.
abet accredited.</p>
<p>"The University of Alabama’s aerospace engineering program provides our students with the skills needed to be successful in today’s highly competitive and increasingly global workplace.</p>
<p>“Given the inherent interdisciplinary nature of aerospace engineering, it is not surprising that graduates from the aerospace engineering program achieve success in a wide variety of fields. While most students graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering (BSAE) degree do pursue careers (or continued graduate studies) related to aerospace engineering, our graduates have also achieved successful careers in computer science, law, business, etc. Aerospace engineering requires the ability to integrate and analyze highly complex systems and, simply put, these skills transcend engineering.”</p>
<p><a href=“http://aem.eng.ua.edu”>http://aem.eng.ua.edu</a></p>
<p>If he wants the big merit from Bama, then take a gap year and apply. </p>
<p>Illinois Institute of Technology has an Aerospace degree. Their sticker price is lower and they are very generous with merit for high stat students.</p>
<p>Oops - my mistake! I stand corrected. (And I should know better, I’ve actually spoken to one of the prof’s from UA’s aerospace department! 8-| ) Sorry about that.</p>
<p>Don’t know what your stat’s are, @bibblezee, but it’s not easy to qualify for the tuition plus housing grant at UAH. (And I misspoke regarding that in my previous post, as well - it’s housing only, not room & board!) If you meet the criteria at UA, you’d be eligible to receive both a [partial</a> or full tuition grant](<a href=“http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html]partial”>http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out_of_state.html) and up to an additional [$2,500/year[/url</a>] for being in the engineering program. That option is closed for this year, but if you decide to take a gap year, you’d have two very good options for the following year. (And the UA application is just as easy as the UAH app - and it also opens in August!)</p>
<p>You won’t find much info on UAH here on CC, but there’s lots of helpful info on UA over in the [url=<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-alabama/]Alabama”>University of Alabama - College Confidential Forums]Alabama</a> forum](<a href=“http://eng.ua.edu/undergraduate/scholarships/]$2,500/year[/url”>Scholarships – College of Engineering | The University of Alabama) - check it out!</p>
<p>Bibbleze, if your family EFC is $2100, that means that your parents have a lot on their plates for their income, credit to carry. Even if they say they will support you 100%, look at what 100% of their surplus income is, and what it will take to pay off any loans they take out on your behalf. PLUS is not guaranteed as it 's just a source to get easy approval for loan money for college Interest rate in this climate is really not good at all and the interest starts racking up as soon as the funds are dispensed. One has to apply each year to get the loan as well. It’s a excellent way for someone who is reasonable high income to pay for college by spreading each year of cost over 10–we did that with our oldest son, but it was still a bear and we did have 10 year when we had to make payments for all 4 years at a time. We just finished paying it off last year. We are considered high income and it was still a nasty hunk of change to pay. For a low income family, or any family who does not have that extra to pay each month, it could be a budget, savings and credit killer. </p>
<p>I told you earlier this was up to your parents, in that as adults they are the ones to decide what debts they can handle and can’t. However, when it comes to those magic words, “ones chiid”, “education”, “opportunity”. I’ve seen a lot of great parents, otherwise responsible parents go goofy when it comes to student loans that they should not have taken. Do the numbers and you’ll see what I mean. It’s easy at age 18 to say you will pay back what your parents borrow for you, but really, 6 figures is a house payment, and you ain’t getting the house. When school is a done deal, you’ll be paying a long time hence, longer than any mortgage when you are more than ready to move on to other things. And because this loan is a federal thing, even when you take over the payments, it’s still sitting on your parents’ credit reports until paid off, and could be an issue if they are low income and go through credit checks for some things they may want and need in the future. Not to mention the disaster it would be if something should happen to you and you can’t make the payments or help them. </p>
<p>You also never know if an industry will tank at any given time. THings can change very quickly these days. I remember some years ago when the aerospace field went under. Get a congress that won’t release funds to the programs, and you can be out of luck along with all in that field. At age 18, to commit to being a certain thing is not something that has a strong correlation to what you will be either. More students transfer out of engineering than just about any other major for any number of reasons. This is not a high success rate major of completion. </p>
<p>So do think it out carefully. Smart you feel the pangs of some problems this early on. A lot of people don’t till the loan payments become due.</p>
<p>This poster lives out of the country, and it isn’t clear to me if his parents are US citizens (for borrowing PLUS loans). He also was applying to other very expensive schools (NYU,USC for musical theater) so they might have the money saved.</p>
<p>I definitely don’t think he should spend the money if he is unsure of his future goals.</p>
<p>“Go for your dream, regardless of expense” is just about the worst advice I can imagine giving a kid in this situation. Because what advice, then, do we give him/her next year when they can’t return due to funding issues? Or decide against AE? Or have to pay mortgage sized student loan payments? Or if health issues arise and payments cannot be made or someone has to drop out of school for a year or a semester?</p>
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<p>ugh! </p>
<p>dont take advice from another 18 year old who is rationalizing his own silly debt choices.</p>
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<p>do you know what makes life seem like it is dragging on forever and ever?</p>
<p>uncomfortable debt</p>
<p>(I’m a she)
I’m not sure if everyone automatically gets notified if I comment again so I’ll tag everyone just in case. I talked to UAH. They were very helpful and let me know that merit scholarships are still available so I applied and sent scores and transcripts. Now, to wait!
I’ve narrowed down the automatic full tuition/full ride scholarship giving schools to those that offer aerospace engineering in case UAH doesn’t work out. If that’s the case, I’ll be back to see which of those colleges I should prioritize.
Thanks for all of your opinions and help. In 4 years, when I’m fresh out of college and NOT drowning in debt, I’ll remember just how nice and helpful folks on college confidential are. Best of luck to all of you!
@mom2collegekids @BrownParent @dodgersmom @Mom2aphysicsgeek @tempemom @twoinanddone @cptofthehouse </p>
<p>If your parents couldnt pay that much out of current or past income( savings), what makes you think they will be able to pay it out of future income, especially when interest charges will be added?</p>
<p>Bibblezee, thank you for the update. I hope it all works out for you!</p>
<p>I just wanted to add that I don’t know of any aero engineer starting at $69K. Even if they were working on the Space Shuttle. I’m glad you came here to find some affordable alternatives.</p>
<p>Good for you, @bibblezee - it takes guts to make a significant last minute course correction like this! Let us know the outcome with UAH . . . :)</p>
<p>Excellent work! Keep us in the loop!</p>
<p>UAH will be a great env’t - they have a higher percentage of women engineering students than many colleges dues to being DD of local engineers and STEM folks (moms and dads). UAH also has very good Co-op opportunities (I use to work in that office in the 1980’s).</p>
<p>Glad UAH said it wasn’t too late for you OP.</p>
<p>To the OP, I don’t know you but am so proud of you for taking your future into your own hands. You are very mature and will go far whatever school you choose!</p>