This is more from the financial side of things. I’m not sure what I want to major in, and yes, that’s pretty bad considering I’ll be going into my first year of college.
Carleton College:
Pros:
Very good med school acceptance rates, maybe I would major in biology.
I love the area, being able to live away from my family, the small class sizes, being able to talk to my professors.
Ultimate frisbee!
Maybe interested in doing their study abroad program, also big fan of the small school vibe.
Will visit during an Admitted Carls’ day.
Cons:
My financial aid letter offers 1k unsubsidized loans, 3.5k subsidized loans.
2k through work-study.
2k parent-contribution.
Location isn’t the greatest for job opportunities.
Way colder than California.
Cal Poly Pomona:
Pros:
Aerospace Engineering major, very good defense contractors recruiting in the area.
Next to airports, know someone who offered me an internship once I graduate.
Well-known for their engineering majors.
Extremely affordable at 1k a yr with no loans.
Cons:
I live around the area and want to be somewhere new. I know a lot of people here from my ethnic background that I do not want to be around, and feel like coming here would limit my independence (ex. they’d probably tell my parents what I’m doing around campus..)
Poor social life, commuter culture.
Class sizes on the larger size.
Probably will have to live at home with helicopter parents.
I know that financially, realistically, I should be going to CPP. I crave that feeling of independence that going to Carleton would give me, like finally being able to find myself and my personality outside of my parents’ whims. However, I know this is an extremely short-sighted feeling and maybe not worth going almost 20k in loans for. I don’t even know what I’d want to major in at Carleton. I would really like some advice.
Edit: For income, last year my family made 90k. However, my dad lost his job. He is normally chronically unemployed and I don’t believe he’ll get a job again. This will put my family income at ~45k. My sibling is also in college. We have some money in savings, no retirement.
I don’t think you need to know for sure your major at this point. Many people don’t actually decide on their final major until toward the end of their sophomore year in college, sometimes even later than that.
But you do need to know if you want Engineering to at least be a possible major, as Carleton does not have Engineering. Standard advice in fact is if Engineering is a possibility, you should probably start in a first year Engineering program, then switch out if you end up wanting to do something else, as it is usually easier to go that direction.
As an aside–there are a lot of colleges with Engineering that would avoid some of the cons you associated with CPP. And some are still taking applications. So I am not sure you are really stuck deciding between these relative extremes, although to be fair I am also not sure what financial offers you could get.
What other colleges with engineering still take applications? I got into UCM, CSUF, CSUSB, and waitlisted at UC Irvine. I worry that nothing will really get as close financially to the Cal States.
Yes, we both got into Carleton and he got the same aid package. We got into generally all of the same schools. He’s considering between UCI and Carleton. Yes, I’m still considering it.
For sure this could be right. But I believe Iowa State, for example, is still taking applications on a rolling basis. They have merit available for OOS students, and they are fantastic for engineering. But again whether they can compete with Carleton or CPP on cost in your case, that I don’t know.
You can appeal your financial aid awards anywhere but particularly at Carleton. In light of your father’s job loss, you have a strong basis for the appeal. Don’t waste any time doing this. A phone call to financial at a Carleton, e-mails to financial aid everywhere. These schools that accepted you want you to go there. They will find a way to make it possible. Carleton does nit offer engineering, but they do offer computer science.
Definitely. They need to make it affordable for you. I would have recommended appealing even if your dad hadn’t lost his job. Often colleges will improve the package somewhat just because there is a request. But move quickly before financial aid money is gone.
Big question, besides the cost and financial aid: what major do you really want to study?
If you are unsure, what major aligns closer to your interests, so that if you change majors, you won’t have to start over in your prerequisite course work?
Are the other schools you got into affordable, and are you interested in them?
Complete the financial aid calculators at both schools with this information. Given that Carleton college meets full need, it will likely be cheaper than CPP starting next year.
Yes, this one is factoring in $2900 in books and travel expenses. You don’t owe that to the school, they are just helping you plan how much you need to plan for those things. Also, it seems you are comparing Carleton costs that include room and board to the cost of a California school where you would be commuting. The difference in cost so you can live on your own and have 3 meals a day seems well worth it. I feel like studying in another state is kind of like studying abroad, you get out of your bubble and experience something new. But, Carleton would need to offer the coursework you are looking for.
