<p>I have pretty much decided that I want to go to Penn State (Berks for two years then University Park) if I don’t get accepted to Princeton (not holding my breath). The problem is that my parents are pretty dead set against it and want me to go to Alabama if I don’t get into Princeton. This is because I will be getting in-state tuition at UA. What upsets me though is I will not being getting any financial help from parents. All the loans will be soully mine. For this reason I feel as though I should be able to choose where I want to go.</p>
<p>Anyway, what I need are some opinions on which school is better. I feel as though it is Penn State but I could just be biased because that is where I want to go so badly. Any good stats that I could use on a Pros and Cons chart would be greatly appreciated :)</p>
<p>* This is because I will be getting in-state tuition at UA. What upsets me though is I will not being getting any financial help from parents. All the loans will be soully mine. For this reason I feel as though I should be able to choose where I want to go.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>I think we need more clarification.</p>
<p>While I can understand your thinking that since your parents aren’t paying, therefore YOU should be able to choose, you are neglecting ONE VERY IMPORTANT issue. YOU cannot borrow very much without YOUR PARENTS’ signature. That’s why THEY will have a “say” in where you go.</p>
<p>You may “want” to go to Penn St…but it costs $40k per year to go there. That is too much to borrow ANYWAY…but a greater problem exists because your parents are NOT going to co-sign those loans.</p>
<p>YOU can only borrow the following amounts by yourself…</p>
<p>frosh $5500
soph $6500
jr $7500
sr $7500</p>
<p>Are you instate for Bama? Or did you get a scholarship for Bama? What are your stats?</p>
<p>* I want to go to Penn State (Berks for two years then University Park) *</p>
<p>It does look like Penn St is “off the table” simply because you will not be able to borrow enough to go there and PSU only gives small merit scholarships and only to Shreyer students.</p>
<p>Besides…it’s much better to go to Bama than to go to two years at Berks first.</p>
<p>Mom is correct in that you will not be able to get loans on your own. Your parents will have to co-sign, which is saying that if you don’t pay back the loans, they are then obligated to. As that is the case, they have a lot of interest in keeping your loan balance as low as possible. At $40,000 a year for PSU, there is probably no way you would ever be able to pay your loan back. While PSU may be your dream school, it is probably not a realistic one unless you were able to get a large scholarship. Your parents are protecting you by not letting you bury yourself financially before even graduating from college.</p>
<p>Collegiate Scholar
An in-state first-time freshman student who meets the December 1st scholarship priority deadline, has a 28-29 ACT or 1250-1320 SAT score and at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA will be selected as a Collegiate Scholar and will receive** $3,500 per year <a href=“$14,000%20over%20four%20years”>/B</a>.</p>
<p>Looks like you’re getting $3500 per year (about half tuition scholarship) from Bama.</p>
<p>So, are you saying that you’ll be paying for ALL of your Bama costs as well (minus the scholarship)?</p>
<p>if so, then how will you be paying for that? Do your parents understand that you can only borrow $5500 as a freshmen?</p>
<p>Is your family low income?</p>
<p>What did you list as your major? you may get more money that way from Bama.</p>
<p>No matter where I go I will be having to get loans to cover the rest of my tuition. So yes, I’ll be having to figure out how to pay for the rest at Bama too. I’ll have to double check my scholarship letter from Bama to see if it’s the $3,500 and not $2,500 (it’s been awhile since I looked at it).</p>
<p>It’s just very discouraging when they let you think for months that you’ll be able to go where you want and then all the sudden drop the ball that you only have one option if you don’t get into an Ivy.</p>
<p>No matter where I go I will be having to get loans to cover the rest of my tuition. So yes, I’ll be having to figure out how to pay for the rest at Bama too.</p>
<p>yes, but it’s much easier to cover a few thousand shortfall then a huge shortfall that you would have with Penn State. You could always cover the Bama shortfall with a summer job and a part-time job. You won’t be able to do that with Penn State.</p>
<p>Why the heck would you think it would be better for you to pay OOS rates for the first 2 years at a Penn State satellite??? That is a very bad idea…most kids will be commuters…you’ll be lonely on weekends. </p>
<p>* I’ll have to double check my scholarship letter from Bama to see if it’s the $3,500 and not $2,500 (it’s been awhile since I looked at it).*</p>
<p>It should be $3500.</p>
<p>It’s just very discouraging when they let you think for months that you’ll be able to go where you want and then all the sudden drop the ball that you only have one option if you don’t get into an Ivy.</p>
<p>What do you mean? Did your parents say that they will pay for an ivy, but they won’t pay for anywhere else?</p>
<p>Did you put a major down at Bama? if not, you need to do so ASAP. you can get more $$ that way. Do not put “pre-law” …that is not a major and won’t get you more money.
Oh and I’m looking into business or law :/</p>
<p>I also can’t imagine going to a PSU satellite from out of state. It just doesn’t make sense.
The cost of Penn State is simply not worth it. Yes, it has slightly more prestige than Alabama, but there are many, many threads on this forum attesting to the strengths of Alabama and what a great education you can get there. I would take it in a heartbeat, myself.</p>
<p>And, if you’re considering law school, then that’s an added reason to minimize your loan amounts. You will have to borrow a lot for law school. You don’t want big debt for undergrad AND law school. </p>
<p>Do you realize how much newish law graduates earn? Not enough to pay back huge loans from undergrad AND law school!</p>
<p>How did Berks get into this discussion? You have a 29 ACT which is the equivalent of a 1300 SAT. The average SAT at Berks is under 1000 (and the average at the main University Park campus is under 1200). You want to pay out of state rates to spend half your college experience at a commuter campus in Reading? No way! You can have a great experience at Bama, or you can apply to a lot of other quality schools at which the deadline for applications has yet to pass. But the proposal you’re weighing right now just dosen’t make sense.</p>
<p>The only reason my parents fully support the Princeton thing is because of their no loan policy my full tuition and half my room and board will be paid for by the school.</p>
<p>But after a lot of thought and reading all the comments I’m considering two years at UA and then finishing out at State (University Park). It’s just that I know I want to be there and live up there when I’m done with all my school. Oh and the whole law thing is something I’ve just been kind of throwing around a bit in my head. I’m pretty set on business though.</p>
<p>*The only reason my parents fully support the Princeton thing is because of their no loan policy my full tuition and half my room and board will be paid for by the school.</p>
<p>*</p>
<p>Well, if that is the case, then they would have to pay for whatever Princeton determined to be the “family contribution,” right? If they’re willing to pay for half of your room and board for Princeton (that should be about $6k), then will they give you $6k towards your room and board elsewhere?</p>
<p>Since your parents have made it quite clear that they’re against loans, then HOW will you EVER get co-signed loans to EVER pay for Penn State? </p>
<p>I’m glad that you’re now considering Bama at least for your first 2 years. I really do not see how you’ll ever get the HUGE loans that you’ll need for Penn State.</p>
<p>Do you understand that even if you only go to Penn State for 2 years that you will need to borrow $80k? Do you understand that $80k is more than TWICE as much as an undergrad should EVER borrow?</p>
<p>How much do you think you’ll be earning when you graduate?</p>
<p>What did you put as your major for Bama? If you didn’t select some area of business (or pre-business) then quickly go to MyBama, Academics Tab, left column, and do so.</p>
<p>How do you know you want to live up there when you graduate? Have you lived in that part of the country? Be careful what you think you want! The South might look pretty darn good after a couple of years up in the middle of PA!</p>
<p>I have a 10th grade son whom I already told based on his current PSAT and GPA that Bama should be a top choice along with Pitt for a financial safety. Even in state, I do NOT encourage my son to go to Penn State given his current stats and our financial situation. Penn State gives very little money in both merit and financial aid. Even the kids at Schreyers get only a few thousand. </p>
<p>If you want to live in PA, consider Pitt. The merit aid there is much better. It is in a city. Sports are still a big part of the experience.</p>
<p>Rather than Berks, I’d encourage my kid to look at private schools in PA who would give you merit for those stats. These would be smaller schools like Susquehanna or Moravian, both of which are still accepting appliacations and giving merit, although the full tution merit date at Sus. has passed</p>
<p>Lisiten to Mom2collegekids. Check out the Honors Colleges at Bama. I do not have any stats, but I have heard of a large number of OOS kids going to the Honors College at Bama. It may be enough diversity to satisfy you.</p>
<p>I DO understand that it is both frustrating and disappointing to learn NOW after months of thinking it was your decision, that they will not let you go to Penn State. But truly, the debt is not worth it and I do not believe Bama is less challenging academically.</p>
<p>As a PA resident, the biggest CON of Penn State aside from cost is finding housing. You have to line up the following year housing practically the second you step foot on UP. Bama has a big hand up there.</p>