So basically I had my heart set out on one school but I’m starting to realize it may be to expensive for me. After grants and scholarships I’m left to pay about 11,000 in loans. This is a lot for me, especially since I intend on going to grad school for school counseling or social work (both careers don’t offer much salary wise). When I applied to the school back in the fall I wasn’t so clear in what I wanted to with my life and didn’t make smart decisions when choosing schools. I already have been accepted into 3 colleges but of course they’re all private and very expensive. The school I planned on attending seemed affordable to me at first, but reality has hit hard. I really don’t want to go into $40,000+ in debt during my under grad when I still have to go to grad school for job that I’ll only make 35-40 thousand a year. I’ve found some more affordable schools but I’m not sure if I should even bother at this point because I would imagine there’s very little aid to give out now. Most of the schools have a march 1 deadline, so I have time to apply, but is it really worth it because I need as much aid as possible??
What are your stats? Did you look at any other in-state options recommended on your other thread? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1859714-my-efc-wasnt-0-will-this-effect-my-grants-and-scholarships.html#latest
Call those schools and find out if you’d still be eligible for aid.
A number of schools will still have aid available. As @suzy100 said, call.
What cost per year lets you attend without loans? What state do you live in?
Any local schools, any you can commute to?
If you want to apply to a few more schools, make sure to add them to your FAFSA now. The sooner the better for most aid if you qualify.
What state are you in?
Thanks for the replies! I’m in NJ and only looking at in state schools. My stats aren’t great (UW GPA-2.77; W GPA-3.3; 1000 combined SAT; 20 ACT) but I’m applying to these schools as an EOF student because the EOF program is basically for students of lower income and lower grades/scores who want to go to 4 year NJ schools but typically wouldn’t be admitted due to their stats. I’ve already been admitted to FDU, NJCU, and Bloomfield College. I’m now applying to Rowan, WPU, Stockton College, and Montclair State.
Oh, and I’m also applying to Ramapo
And are these affordable? What happens when your mom moves down south? Usually a dependent student gets residency through their parent. Would you then have to pay OOS rates for NJ schools?
@mommdc I never thought about that. I just figured I’d still be considered a resident of NJ since I’ve always lived here.
What do you have to lose by applying?
@bjkmom Nothing really, except that I do have to pay to send my SAT scores…
OK, so the question now becomes: is it worth that cost?
Did you use a SAT fee waiver and did you use up all of your free score reports?
@mommdc I did use a fee waiver but you can only send your scores for free for a limited time and that time has passed for me already
Cost of sending SAT scores < $40k in debt
@bjkmom I’m not sure. It costs 11.25 a school. I have the money for it and I do think I have a chance at getting in to those schools, but I’m still not completely confident.
So you’re not willing to risk $11.25 per school?
Compare that to the cost of a college education.
You don’t have to be confident. Apply, and see what comes back.
But apply reasonably… at this point in the game, apply to schools at which you have a very good chance of getting accepted, and ones you would be happy to attend. It’s too late in the year for reaches.
No. If you used a SAT fee waiver you get 4 free score reports to use anytime.