I’m a rising high school senior and will be applying for graphic design programs. I live in Alabama, so there are no good options in-state. My top schools are in the State/City University of New York systems, which are the cheapest out-of-state schools I’ve seen with evidence of decent design programs. Despite that, I’m still worried that I won’t be able to afford 4 yrs of college right after high school.
Though my stats are good, these schools don’t have good merit scholarships from what I’ve seen. On top of that my parents make too much for me to receive practically any need-based aid, but don’t manage it well enough to help me much. Because of my situation I’ve considered taking a gap year and have developed a list of pros and cons.
Pros:
~could work and build savings
~can decide if I really want to live in NYC (I want anyway and thought that college would be the best time)
~time to decide if i really want to do graphic design (it was a recent decision and very well could change)
~may be able to establish residency/in-state tuition rates at some schools (a difference of about $10/yr, $40k total)
Neutrals:
~I’m already teaching myself design skills over the next year, so freelancing in the time off is still a possibility.
~I have also had local success selling my fine art and could try expanding that into stable side-hustle.
~merit aid is low already, so total cost isn’t affected much by not applying as a hs senior.
~I could take the gap after attending at least a semester of college
Cons:
~the stress that comes just from trying to stay afloat, financial independence (failing to find work or an apartment, being thousands of miles away from family to fall back on)
~residency status still seems unlikely, and requires jumping through many hoops
~risk not wanting to go back to school
~graduating a year later than expected, with possibly no benefits
Let’s start with the one very important item. You will NOT be granted instate residency for tuition purposes in NY state…you won’t. Living there yourself won’t matter one bit…it’s where your parents live. You are a resident of Alabama for tuition purposes…not NY.
@thumper I pretty much figured that would be that case. However, I am still interested in living in NY as the end goal, so it would not be my sole reason for moving. I have already considered each of the schools you listed and even more in-state and am not impressed with any of them.
It doesn’t matter if your reason for moving to NY is solely for college or not. If your parents aren’t state residents, you won’t be considered one. Even if they were residents, their income/assets would be considered when calculating eligibility for state aid until you’re 35, so the minimum you’d have to pay is $20k. As an OOS student, your cost will be closer to $30k.
Since your parents earn ~$100k you probably won’t qualify for the Pell Grant. You can take the ~$5500/year federal student loan, but you’d still need $25k to attend a SUNY. How would you pay it?
In your other thread you mention that you have a 33 ACT. If your GPA is good, why aren’t you looking for merit? Students whose families can’t/won’t pay much can’t afford to be picky. Find out how much your parents can contribute then start running the Net Price Calculators on college websites until you come up with a list of affordable options.
So…how will you support yourself in NYC as a 18 year old HS graduate? It’s a very pricey place to live…VERY. Unless you have some special skills, it’s unlikely you would earn enough money to even pay for a room in someone else’s apartment…think $1000 a month or HIGHER.
You have instate, more affordable options. You could apply for internships or summer jobs in NY or some other metro area. You have the rest of your life, with a degree hopefully in four years or so, that will open up employment doors.
Taking a gap year will not solve the problems you are having. The schools won’t get less costly. You won’t get instate status in NY. And if you decide to live in NY during this gap year, you won’t have a dime of savings for college in 2019 because you will be spending all of it on living expenses in NYC which is costly.
If your end goal is working and living in NYC, fine. But it’s the END goal, and you don’t need to live there while in college or during a gap year.
What is your GPA…how about your SAT score or ACT score? What will your parents contribute? Give these answers and folks can help you find other affordable options.
Your instate schools DO have more affordable programs that can get you to your end game. You just “aren’t impressed” with them. Frankly, they should be on your application list, because unless your family decides to pay more, they could be your affordable acceptance options. Don’t close the door, and your mind…on these choices.
If your major isn’t offered at your state schools, see if there is another school on an exchange with your state that gives you a break on tuition. Or perhaps another state where you can establish residency. NY and CA are difficult, but Utah and Missouri are easier. Some states might be easier with two years of residency, but you’ll still be a dependent for financial aid purposes until you are 24.
If you are making some money now as a high school student, you area must not be all that bad for your line of work.
My parents will have just enough money to help me with a portion of my expenses starting off, but not to pay tuition and other costs for 4 years. Also I don’t think I’m being picky by ruling out instate schools. I’m still applying to a couple as safeties/transfer-out options. When I say, I’m not impressed with the majority of in state schools I mean that I genuinely don’t feel like they would prepare me enough for my career to be worth taking a cheaper price.
I want to clarify @austinmshauri : I mentioned my intent to move, just to say that moving to NY is something I want to do despite college, not that it would have any affect on aid. I’ve already used the net price calculators and taken my merit into account. All of them are still very expensive.
@thumper1 I wasn’t planning to move without a job lined up or savings. Nor do I think it’s going to be easy or that I’ll afford even a studio to myself in Manhattan or anything like that. Alson though I’ve had a small success where I already live, I don’t see enough opportunity to warrant staying here over going somewhere else.
I forgot to mention in the post that I am willing to take my gap year in between years as well, so I wouldn’t be an 18 year old fresh out of hs. That would have it’s own pros and cons.
I am still going to apply to schools as if my only intentions are the traditional route and will make chances of affording them as high as possible. However, I know I may have to take more than one gap year, or not pursue a degree at all (at least not for the same field.)
There are successful graphic designers in all big cities and many other places as well, so letting go of living in NYC during college as the only way to achieve your dream would be helpful. What about a big city closer to home? Georgia State University in downtown Atlanta has a graphic design major. https://artdesign.gsu.edu/undergraduate/bfa-in-studio-concentrations/graphic-design/
Run the NPC and look at merit opportunities at Hobart WilliamSmith, St Lawrence, Skidmore, Lafayette, Muhlenberg, Drew, Temple, Fordham, Fordham Lincoln.
Depending on how much exactly your parents can pay, that 33 could garner you substantial merit.
Also look into Northeastern, UCincinnati (co-ops).
@MYOS1634 I originally had UCincinnati on my list but the NPC price was too high. Because the student work looks so professional and the co-op program seems successful, I think I’ll apply to it as one of my reach schools.
I am not sure that 33 gets substantial merit many places any more outside of the obvious suspects ( rejected by OP). If OP has 30/40K plus a year to burn, options are great. It seems that this is not the case and OP needs merit with substance. That is going to mean a reality check.
Check this out for U of Cincinnati (and other co-op programs)
A friend’s daughter attends and she’s had co-ops with Audible, Google and one other big name company.
@intparent This was one of the NPCs that didn’t ask for merit information, but the school does seem to have a substantial amount to give away. Because of this there, is a chance to compete for a price within my budget.
@Sybylla I feel that no one is truly understanding why I’m not applying to certain schools. I’ve given a good effort to consider them. From touring, looking at their department websites, trying to find departments on social media, etc, I don’t feel that these programs would help me be much more succesful than I would be on my own. Important things are the quality of student work, if the profs are successful designers themselves, and proximity to industry and internships. Even though these schools are cheaper, if I don’t have a good portfolio and useful skills by graduation, why pay for them? I wouldn’t buy eggshells because I couldn’t afford the whole egg; I just wouldn’t buy any. I hope I’m not coming off as rude because this is really just the only way I could word what I was thinking.
It doesn’t matter where you apply. if you can’t afford it, you won’t be going. If you can make it all on your own, you go girl. Your 17 yr old worldly self might just have to learn your own way. You do not have to go to college, for sure.
Make sure you check the deadlines (often Nov 30 or Dec1) for merit aid.
A 33 does garner lots of merit at all the universities I listed (except Northeastern but it offers need based aid). At the private universities, OP coming from Alabama will mean a boost due geographic diversity of op expressed interest (request info form, emails to admissions or professors in her field…)
You need to have a few options that you can definitely afford.
Visit the graphic design department at UA, UAH, and UAB and see what they can offer you.
OOS high stats students from all over the US go to these schools because of their generous merit scholarships. They have good quality programs in health science, CS, engineering, business, etc so research the opportunities before you dismiss them out of hand.
With your high ACT score, as an instate student, these should be very affordable for you.
Every year there are threads from students who don’t want to attend instate schools, want to go OOS. That usually adds at least $10,000 to instate costs because OOS schools will charge higher tuition to OOS students.
You can try applying to some OOS schools that would give you full tuition for your stats, but those aren’t plentiful in the Northeast.
But even then, room, board, travel and books could well cost $12,000-$15,000 still. So you’ll need to come up with that much, and you can only borrow around $5,000 in student loans.
People are trying to give you good advice, so that you are not one of the students who posts next May that none of their schools are affordable.