<p>Does $10,000 per year in loans (including staffords) sound manageable? (Paying them back after graduation)</p>
<p>I tried to avoid loans as much as possible but after talking with the family and putting numbers together, I will not have enough funds to meet the COA.</p>
<p>What factors do many of you try to weigh when deciding whether or not $10,000 per year in loans will be worth it for the institution you plan to attend?</p>
<p>From what people have told me, you should take out less in all four years than you expect to make your first year working. Although in my case, with grad school, that’s sorta confusing.</p>
<p>What options do you have that will leave you with less debt?</p>
<p>What is your major, and what are your plans after college?</p>
<p>Who is co-signing the extra loans with you? Will they qualify to co-sign all four years? Can they easily pay of the co-signed loans if anything happens to you?</p>
<p>That’s more debt than you should have. Who is cosigning those loans?</p>
<p>Can you work over the summer to minimize how much you’ll need.</p>
<p>I don’t agree with the “one year” guideline. I think that’s still too much AND most students overestimate how much they’ll earn out of college.</p>
<p>That’s way too much debt. You need to find a cheaper school.</p>
<p>According to this thread, you’re pre-med. You need to avoid mostly all debt while an undergrad pre-med since med school is so expensive.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1326116-state-schools.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/1326116-state-schools.html</a></p>
<p>You were deciding between 2 state schools. How much was the flagship and how much was the LAC for you?</p>
<p>That is on the high side and, frankly, may not cover your expenses since tuition bills go up every year. Is there a possibility of cutting off a semester through AP/ CLEP classes? You probably shouldn’t skip AP classes in science as a premed (because they’re foundational). Another possibility would be to take some time off during your studies to work.</p>
<p>Local community college would be my only option at this time that would leave me with less debt. I am a senior and applied a bit late due to illness; therefore scholarships/grants and the range of colleges I could apply to were limited. </p>
<p>Majoring in History and would like to pursue the pre-med track. If everything goes as planned, I would like to attend medical school.</p>
<p>My parents are willing to co-sign the loans and yes, they will qualify to take loans out. Parents claim they can easily pay off the loans should something happens to me. Personally, since I know how they handle their money I feel they may not be up for the task even though they claim to take full responsibility. </p>
<p>COA for the flagship would be $ $22,500. COA for the LAC would have been $17,000. I would need about $10,000 in loans for the flagship. LAC would require me to take on between $7000 and $8000 in loans. I was told not to take into account work study because it is not guaranteed money (both offered $3500 max)</p>
<p>I chose the flagship over the LAC due to the opportunities the flagship has in many aspects relating to my major and plans in the future.</p>
<p>If I can find a job for the summer, Id be willing to take one on. Enjoying my last free summer was the advice I received but I wouldnt mind having a job. I do have some AP credits but did not intend to use them for the same exact reason mentioned. Not sure about holding off college for another semester/year </p>
<p>Also, trying to avoid junior college because I am taking into account the pre-med courses Id need to take. Because some/most medical schools look down on pre-med courses taken at a community college, it would mean Id need to hold off taking most of the pre-requisites until my last two years at a 4 year university. I would not feel confident in taking a bunch of science courses crammed into two semesters.</p>
<p>" I am a senior and applied a bit late due to illness; therefore scholarships/grants and the range of colleges I could apply to were limited. "</p>
<p>Why don’t you defer enrollment at the flagship, and work this fall while you re-consider your college list. Don’t take any classes at all so that you can apply as a freshman applicant. You may have much better options if you do that.</p>
<p>I’m not certain where you get the notion that “some/most medical schools look down on pre-med courses taken at a community college”. Lots of people can only afford to attend college at all if they start at a community college, and a fair number do go on to attend med school.</p>
<p>*My parents are willing to co-sign the loans and yes, they will qualify to take loans out. Parents claim they can “easily” pay off the loans should something happens to me. Personally, since I know how they handle their money – I feel they may not be up for the task even though they claim to take full responsibility. *</p>
<p>Then THEY should be borrowing the amounts in excess of Staffords. </p>
<p>I agree with HappyMom. you should consider taking a gap year and then applying where to schools with better aid/merit.</p>
<p>Also, trying to avoid junior college because I am taking into account the pre-med courses I’d need to take. Because some/most medical schools look down on pre-med courses taken at a community college, it</p>
<p>this is partially true…depends on the strength of the CC and the classes you take. Some who start at CCs will WAIT till they get to the Univ to take OChem and other higher level sciences so that the med schools will be more amenable.</p>