OP, welcome to adulthood. A time when you realize you can’t always get what you want. Do continue exploring out-of-state options, but also work on having a solid back up plan for college in Arizona. And then find ways of making your California (or wherever) dreams come true after college.
I know it seems unfair to have to settle. But that’s what adults do: they seek a balance between what they WANT to do with the realities of what they CAN do.
Yes, welcome to adulthood. I wanted to add to @katliamom ‘s great message. While we are often limited by what we can afford (and you’ve mentioned that your family will not help you with costs), but sometimes you can still EVENTUALLY get what you want, just not on your original timetable.
There’s virtually no chance that you’re going to get a free ride anywhere (which is what you need). Not even a private school would work. Sure, a private that costs $60k per year might give you $30k in aid, but you have no way to get the other $30k. As for a WUE school, you don’t have the money to pay the regular instate rate, much less 150% for tuition plus room and board.
I don’t know what part of Az you live, but NAU is in a location where the climate/atmosphere is nothing like the rest of the state.
I’m not sure what you mean by “backwards” but Arizona isn’t backwards. Hawaii is crazy expensive, so get that idea out of your head. The airfare alone is crazy expensive. Calif publics won’t give you any aid, so they won’t be affordable either.
If you go OOS, likely you’ll have to pay for healthcare insurance. Are you on your parents’ healthcare plan now? If so, it may not be adequate or acceptable to a univ OOS. Many plans don’t work well OOS, so the student has to spend $2000 purchasing a student plan at school.
Not sure how you’re figuring that $12k contribution. Are your parents low income? That $12k would likely be a full Pell Grant (if parents are low income) and a $5500 student loan. If your family isn’t low income, where would the $12k come from?
Also think about this. It sounds like you’re trying to get away from your parents (moving to hawaii, etc). You’re going to need your parents cooperation EVERY year to fill out FAFSA. If you “abandon” them and cut them out of your life, they’re not likely going to provide the info needed to fill out fafsa each year. And certainly going to hawaii would likely mean not being able to come home during Xmas or summer breaks simply because the cost is crazy high.
If your issue is really with your parents, then you can accomplish your need to “get away” by going to NAU, work in that area over the summer, and minimize family visits.
I still want to know how you are positive you will qualify for a full tuition award at NAU. From what I’m reading…all applicants will be CONSIDERED for these awards when their applications for admission are reviewed…not guaranteed. Maybe I’m misreading that.
Plus IIRC, you don’t even have an SAT or ACT score…yet.
Could you answer the questions posed in post 38?
National Student Exchange exists.
And yes, state boundaries are man-made. Flagstaff isn’t very similar to Phoenix at all. What specifically about CA schools attract you?
And if you really really want something, work for it. After you graduate from HS, go get a job in CA, hustle, save up money, and then look for colleges to attend.
NAU has the lumberjack scholarship for any AZ student with at least a 3.5 (and no C’s at all) in academic classes.
BTW the “in all academic classes” is not always spelled out by the HS…and one friend of mine was very unpleasantly surprised.
@myusedromance I really wanted to get away from my home for college too. I went to a university in state that was a 30 minute drive from my home. It might as well have been 30 hours - it felt like a world apart. I got a full tuition grant and was able to pay my own living expenses so I was completely independent. Sounds like you will be able to do that at NAU as well. Financial independence will set you free in ways that moving out of state and depending on family for assistance will not. Think about it.