<p>I’m going into my sophomore year of high school, and since my parents don’t have the money to send me to an expensive school, it’s been left up to me to financially support myself after my senior year.</p>
<p>I’ve always been a hard-working student, and receive mostly As and Bs. I’m Vice President of my class, Treasurer of the Music Honor Society, and Treasurer of the Drama Club. I also plan to join as many extra-curricular activities possible this year.</p>
<p>My number one school is Emerson College in Boston. I plan on being an English major, with a minor in film. As this school is the only one of its kind in the US, it’s very important to me to get in. Assuming I did, I have a slight dilemma.</p>
<p>After doing some research, I’ve found that tuition + room & board will cost about $43,092 per year.</p>
<p>I plan on applying for jobs during the upcoming semester of high school, and working diligently throughout the rest of my high school career.</p>
<p>Obviously, three years of waitressing or serving ice cream will NOT make me that kind of money. I know loans are always an option, and will most definitely be used in my situation. However, I don’t want to have to spend an excessive amount of time after college paying them off. I also figure that if I work hard enough, I can earn scholarships. </p>
<p>My question though, is what else can I do in order to pay for my college education?</p>
<p>if working a job will add minimal monetary value towards your education then don’t do it. I think your time will be better served if you concentrate on getting straight A’s and nailing the SAT or ACT. Get involved with school clubs that your interested in and get additional info on some of the merit programs that Emerson offers. To sum it up make your resume shine, do something your interested in and passionate about and take on leadership positions outside the class room. </p>
<p>*Try getting an internship at a local newspaper or television studio. Try the improper bostonian i know they offer internships. You already know what you want to major in so it only makes sense you pursue activities in those fields. You should be able to bring this home in your essays and explain why you need Emerson. Good luck!</p>
<p>*always look to get merit aid first loans are evil!</p>
<p>The school does offer some merit aid. “Approximately 65% of students receive financial assistance; average award is approximately $15,000 in scholarships and grants, low-interest loans and part-time employment.” Unfortunately those low interest loans are probably the Stafford loans which are still debt.</p>
<p>I don’t know how Emerson treats CC transfers but you may want to ask them that.</p>
<p>Are you saying this is the ONLY school in the country where you can do a major in English and a minor in film? I’m not sure that’s true. Please explain this comment.</p>
<p>“Emerson is the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts context. It offers over 37 degree programs in the Arts and Communication.”</p>
<p>I got that off their website. I didn’t mean that it was the only place where I could do a major in English and a minor in film. I just meant that the school itself was one of a kind. I would love to go to a school completely dedicated to communications and the arts, not just because of the programs, but because of the people and opportunities. I just feel like I’d have more going for me there. I’m not opposed to going to another school, I’d just really love to go to Emerson.</p>
<p>Yes…Emerson’s specialty is areas related to communication…but there are other schools out there where you could pursue these courses of study. It is a fine school…I’m not challenging that but it’s not the only place in the country where you can get these degrees.</p>
<p>I think you should include Emerson on your LIST of colleges to which to apply. BUT you need to find others that will fulfill your requirements as well. Included should be schools that also fulfill your financial requirements…in other words places where the cost will be able to be paid. </p>
<p>And you need to have a very serious discussion with your parents about what they WILL be able to contribute to your college costs annually. This will help you in crafting a realistic college list.</p>
<p>Look at your stats (SAT/ACT, GPA) and see where that places you for possible merit money where you apply. Will your family qualify for any needbased aid? Run their numbers through one of the financial aid calculators using the institutional methodology for Emerson…and you’ll at least get a guestimate of what the schools might expect your family to contribute. View this number as a MINIMUM you will be expected to pay. Many schools do not meet full need. </p>
<p>You should also check your instate public universities to see if any of them have these majors (they ALL have English…Does UMass Dartmouth have a film program…I don’t know, but they do have other arts/photography programs). </p>
<p>As long as you have a balanced list of schools, you will be fine. This includes schools where the finances will not prohibit your attendance.</p>
<p>In all honesty, with parents planning to contribute nothing, Emerson will probably not be a good option for you, so start falling in love with other schools too. It’s not a school that meets need and the average merit package isn’t going to help you much. </p>
<p>You need to figure out what your family’s EFC will be. There are calculators to do that on this site and on many college’s sites. This will tell you whether you should focus on colleges that meet need, those that give merit scholarships or both. There are many schools with great communications/film/English!</p>
<p>OP, if you’re only a sophomore in HS you may want to focus on getting good grades and trying out a variety of interests. It’s likely that your tastes, interests, and your career interests will change and develop over the next 3 years. Try not to worry about one particular school right now and visit other schools as opportunities arise.</p>
<p>Actually, more important than figuring out your EFC is KNOWING what your parents are going to contribute to your college costs annually. Since you are a high school sophomore, they may not really know that yet…but you can start having discussions with them about this. It doesn’t do any good to know your EFC if your parents can’t or won’t contribute that amount. AND in some cases, parents are able to contribute MORE than the EFC.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that EFC should be viewed as the MINIMUM your family will be expected to contribute.</p>