Is the Debt Worth It?

laplatinum
Wed, 18 Apr 2012 02:18:43 +0000

Yojayyy, I strongly suggest you call UCSB, if you have not already. (I tried to read most of these 5 pages of posts, but it’s late so I’m not sure if this got covered before now.) They can review the FAFSA with you so you understand exactly what the situation is and discuss the actual costs. One example is that if you are covered by your parents’ health plan, you can receive a waiver and that removes that fee. If a triple room is available, that would lower your costs, too. You can see if there are any additional things available such as work study. Did you apply for any scholarships from your high school or elsewhere that could go to UCSB? (My son just learned today he won a $1000 scholarship from a local club in our city and that’s a grand less we have to come up with. Yes, on one level a drop in the bucket, but everything helps.) My son also found out we have jobs at our local grocery store and with AP tests nearly over, he can go to work a couple of months before all kids are looking for summer jobs. Another possibility is ROTC. You obviously have to be interested in the military, but they do pay small stipends every semester and I think you have two years before you have to make the final commitment. Finally, I spoke with a UC FA person today who said every January there are scholarships for campus posted. Perhaps you did not get them this year, but there are more you can apply for down the road. Not a guarantee, of course, but you could create a plan to figure out how to avoid 100% loans. Just some more food for thought. UCSB is a terrific school and obviously not easy to have gotten into.