Last week my mother told me that I could commit to my dream school. I love everything about it. Its just a little expensive but my mom told me we could make it work. Yesterday, a state school finally sent me a financial aid package and with federal loans, it would cost under $2000 a year. At the dream school i would end up with 7000 in federal loans and 3000 in private loans with my parents paying 8000 until next year when I can become an RA. At the state school, I would still have to take 7000 in federal and parents would only pay lets say 2000.
I have never visited the state school because I decided from the beginning I wasn’t going to go there and only applied because my mother asked me to. I also plan to play field hockey in college and I haven’t been in touch with the coach there in months. On the other hand, my dream school has so many opportunities and I love the coach and team there. I told the coach I was getting ready to commit and she said they really wanted me there. My high school coach/counselor told me that the private loans would be worth it because my heart is in that school but I have not talked to her about the full tuition award yet.
I feel awful asking my mom to take on the burden of my tuition at my dream school but I also cannot stand the thought of not going to that school, especially after she told me I could commit this weekend. I am afraid that she won’t be willing to send me there because she has said a few times that “free is hard to pass up.”
Any ideas as to what I should do? Do I sacrifice my dream school for a school I have never even seen? Or do I risk the guilt of asking to commit to my dream?
No one is guaranteed an RA position. They are extremely competitive, so you should not be making plans based on your getting a RA position.
If you already know paying 8k with an additional 3k in loans are going to be a hardship for your family, why pursue this. you are talking about a minimum of 40k in loans by the time you finish (keep in mind both you and your family are most likely going to have increased loans as tuition and your loan eligibility increases).
Either ask dream school for a little more $$ or take the more affordable option
your dream school should not be a financial nightmare
I agree, ask dream school for more aid. Tell them they are your first choice (true) but your mom would have to take out loans while this other school is offering free tuition.
You could also mention to college coach that you are appealing the fin aid because of the burden on your family. Maybe coach will put in a word for you at the FA office.
It’s nice that your HS counselor thinks that the loans would be worth it. He or she is not paying the bills.
You should contact your number one school. But keep on mind that your number one might not really car what your state school is giving you. It sounds like you got a merit award from the state school. Is that correct?
We’re you a recruited athlete at a school that gives schoalrships to field hockey players? Or no?
I would suggest you contact the first choice school. Tell them that you have an offer where your net cost would be significantly less, but that you prefer their school. See what happens.
In addition discuss the finances with your family.
And as noted above, don’t count on getting an RA job. They are very competitive positions, with lots of qualified applicants.
I agree with sybbie719 that you cannot count on the RA job. Also if you have a heavy sport commitment, the RA job might not be possible due to time constraints. In that case, would you be willing to give up the sport? What happens if you do not get the RA job? Can you still afford the school. If not, you would need to transfer and transfer aid is usually less that what you would have gotten as a freshman. In this case, you paid a high price for freshman year and still have a degree from the state school.
Is the reverse possible? Two years at the state school and then transfer to your dream school?
You need to look at the total college cost over four years assuming NO RA job. Also factor in tuition increases for each year. You also need to make sure that you and your parents will be able to qualify for all those loans in future years. Then decide if you can still afford the four year cost.
The issue I see is that it sounds like you never really gave the state school a hard look. Can you visit and do some research to see what opportunities it offers? It might surprise you but you won’t know unless you look at it with open eyes. It might not be a “Dream School” but could you make it a good/great fit for you?