I got into a university and I really want to go. The issue is with my parents is that I’m going to have to dorm there since it’s over an hour away from where I live, raising the cost. I did the fasfa process with my mom. According to the school’s portal that linked me to an awards page, the total cost of attendance was like $36,000 but the net cost ended up being about $9000 (surver is down so I can’t check the exact numbers, also it said something about the federal work study system… Someone explain?) My mom says that’s still not good enough though 
She hasn’t looked at the page with all the awards listed yet. But even then I feel like she’s going to pressure me out of not going to this school. I made the grave mistake of not applying to more schools, like state schools (could’ve been cheaper). I really want to have that college experience and move out and see what opportunities are out there. I like home, but it’s really time for me to make that leap.
I just want to be happy. But I’ve been miserable and upset this entire month. Instead of being happy for myself that I got into college, I’ve only been crying. I’m getting so much pressure from my parents about everything. I feel torn apart and scared. I don’t know anything about money, nor what I’m getting myself into. I’ve worked my butt off these past four years and I’m top 9% of my class, and I feel like I’m just going to throw all of that away. I tell myself that when I’m an older adult and have my career set that I can pay off my debts on my own, but my mom laughed like that was impossible. I’m going for a science major, biology. I don’t know if I’ll go to medical school. I’ve always liked the idea of becoming a dietician. They just don’t make a lot of money in California though 
What would be the smart choice?? Is it normal I feel this way? Are other people in my place? Would I be able to get through this financially?
Before anyone suggests I talk to my high school counselors: they are no help and have no patience with students.
Also please excuse my whiny tone, I apologize. I’m just really stressed out at the moment.
Going to college is always worth the cost. Think about it, do you really want some minimum wage job the rest of your life?
If your parents won’t help you out, take out some loans and pay it back once you graduate. $9,000 will be easy to pay back
Is it $9,000 per year? Can your parents help you pay at all? If you get an on-campus job, you can reduce the amount of debt you accumulate each year to a manageable level below $9000, and any help from your parents would also help. Regardless, going to college is worth the cost.
The difference in lifetime earnings between a HS graduate and a College graduate is about $0.9M closing on $1.0M. The difference in unemployment rates between HS graduates and College graduates during the 2010 economic crash was 4% vs. something like 9%. There are very few investments in life where $9K x 4 gets you $900K
@nyuhopeful44 @Wje9164be
Opps my bad! I didn’t say I wouldn’t go to college, I still am. But I was contemplating if I should turn down going to a university. I probably should’ve reworded the title of this thread.
I just feel like I’d regret not taking the chance when I had it and end up hating community college. And if I do resort to community college, it wouldn’t even be a local one (I really don’t want to be with the same people). That idea still doesn’t appeal to me though.
@coffeeaddicted
Actually, it was close to $9600 a year (however I’m skeptical of receiving one of the grants, hear the federal work study system makes students overwork…must look into this).
I finally went over with the report with my mom. She looked at it and didn’t say it was bad, but still encouraged me to do scholarships. It turns out, I got a good deal. I was just worried that from all four years it would add up and I’d be paying debts the rest of my life. My parents would be there to help, however. I just feel guilty.
I am going to college, of course. But is community college for two years smarter than going to a university for four years -when I would be receiving good grants-?
What’s more valuable, the experience or the savings?
Dieticians and nutritionists have a national median salary of ~57kper year.
Cooks have a median salary of ~20k a year.
After 4 years of university, you will be 80k in the positive as a cook and 27k negative if you went to university.
After 1 year, you are +100k as a cook and +30k as dietician.
After 2 years, you are +120k as a cook and +87k as dietician.
After 3 years, you are +140k as a cook and +144k as a dietician.
After 3 years, you come out in the positive. You will be making 3 times what you will have earned if you did not go to a university. I think the choice is clear.