Give me guidance. What school should I select?

College Search & Lists
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<p>I’ll applied to Arizona State University, Montclair State University, and University of Mississippi. I am no longer interested in U of Mississippi, leaving a choice between Arizona State and Montclair State.</p>

<p>Let me start with this. I love Arizona State. A lot more than Montclair State. But I’m don’t think i can go to Arizona State, because of money. Arizona State is out-of-state, Montclair State is in-state, making MSU a lot more cheaper.</p>

<p>My parents combined make about $38,000 per year. I don’t work. My parents have no money saved up for me. I’m not going to get a scholarship. I’ll probably get only $7,000 in aid.</p>

<p>Arizona State</p>

<p>Tuition and fees: $19,000
Room and board: $9,000
Other expenses: $5,000
Total estimated cost: $33,000 per year</p>

<p>After estimated aid: $33,000 - $7,000 = $26,000 per year</p>

<p>Montclair State</p>

<p>Tuition and fees: $10,000
Room and board: $10,000
Other expenses: $5,000
Total estimated cost: $25,000 per year</p>

<p>After estimated aid: $25,000 - $7,000 = $18,000 per year</p>

<p>I like ASU more, but going there isn’t cheap. Where should I go? What can I do to pay for ASU?</p>

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<p>What is your aid estimate based on? Can your parents assist you in paying for school?</p>

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<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/850970-how-much-federal-aid-do-you-think-i-will-get.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/850970-how-much-federal-aid-do-you-think-i-will-get.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>They could probably only get me about $2,000-$5,000 per year.</p>

4

<p>You also need to consider travel expenses. Beginning of the year, end of the year, winter break, spring break, etc. Most dorms close during long breaks.</p>

<p>I’m not so sure this is a matter of “selecting a college.”</p>

<p>If you have no savings, you don’t work and your parents make less than $40,000 a year, you may have to attend a school that isn’t your first choice. You may even have to live at home (saving $10,000 in room and board). Lots and lots of students have to make this choice for financial (and family) reasons. It may not be as much fun as moving to Arizona, but as long as you stay in college and graduate, you’ll have a lot more choices in the long run, especially if you do not graduate with a lot of debt.</p>

<p>Talk with the ASU financial aid department and see what they suggest. Explore all scholarship possibilities. Look for a job at a company that has tuition reimbursement. Work during the day and go to school at night, then transfer in two years. This all sounds very harsh and I really do feel for you. But on $38,000 a year, it would would be impossible to send a child out of state to college without major scholarships.</p>

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<p>I understand your situation, I myself is need base aid and possibly will not be able to afford the universities I will have a selection from. I personally would keep looking at ASU if not there apply elsewhere, I couldn’t imagine attending a school in Mississippi.</p>

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<p>Looks like you should go to Montclair. Some of that $7K aid you listed is already in loans. Borrowing an additional $18K/yr would total $72K at the end of 4 years and paying the equivalent of a house mortgage for school. IMO that is way too much for a new grad.</p>

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<p>You might start at MSU, work and save $, then transfer</p>

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<p>I agree that you also need to include travel expenses. Students need to figure on about 3 - 4 trips home per year. For you, that would be an additional $1200-1600.</p>

<p>Unless your parents have cheap rent, it would be very hard for them to pay $2k-5k per year since you also have a baby in the family, and income is low.</p>

<p>I think you should go to a local community college where you can commute for 2 years - paying for it with Pell.</p>

<p>Then, transfer to AzSt. At least at that point, you’ll only have to borrow 2 years worth of education costs. </p>

<p>Is your parents’ income low enough that your income won’t count? If so, spend the next 24 months working and saving as much as you can. That will also lessen loans. Also, if your parents can contribute $2k-5k each year, then they can contribute that much into a savings for you while you’re at a CC.</p>