Not including "retirement" info on CSS...

carolyn
Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:35:48 +0000

Golddustwoman, Having read many of your posts on the Reed forum, I feel like I know you just a bit. Therefore, I think you will not mind my honest opinion: you are going about things a**-backwards.

I know how badly you want Reed and Chicago, and, certainly, you should try to make them happen. BUT you have to keep your eyes on the larger goal here. The goal isn’t to attend one of those schools for a year and possibly have to drop out because you can’t come up with the money; the goal is to insure that you get your college degree.

Years ago, I was in a very similar situation to yours. I wanted, dreamed about, lusted after a particular private college. There was no way my family could afford it for four years without major financial aid. In those days, things were done differently, and I ended up not getting the money I needed to attend that dream school. Instead, I attended an inexpensive in-state public institution for two years before transferring to a private university (different than my “dream” school, because by then my goals and preferences were far different) for my last two years.

It wasn’t the perfect solution. The first two years were not as academically challenging as I might have liked, I felt cheated, I felt trapped. BUT that all changed when I transferred. Because I’d focused on completing all of my general ed requirements at the less expensive public, when I transferred to the more expensive private, most of my courses were in my major anyhow, so I didn’t miss out on the meat of the experience. I ended up much less in debt (yep, still had to take some even back then), and still got the educational benefit of the private school experience.

So, here’s where I think you are going about this the wrong way. You NEED to have the University of Arizona on your list as a financial safety in order to buy yourself time to be able to transfer to the private school of your dreams. Is U of A Reed or Chicago? No. But, it is a ticket to the larger goal: finishing your education in a manner that is financial reasonable, especially if you qualify for merit money at Arizona. Heck, working the hours you’re planning at the price you charge for two years you could build up a nice bank role to make those last two years at the better school feasible without as much financial aid or student debt.

And, by the way, Arizona has a decent classics program to boot.

So, please, don’t be short-sighted and focus only on your immediate goal. Keep your eyes on the larger, more important, prize, and keep all roads open to achieving it until you know how things are going to pan out. If the money you need comes through from Reed or Chicago - no problem, kiss Arizona goodbye. But it is foolish to kiss it goodbye before you even know if you might need it.

Apply to the U of Arizona. You need a financial back up plan.