<p>Hi, my names Austin and I’m really looking for advice and help on my situation. I’ve never tried anything like this before but here’s my story.</p>
<p>So I live in Southwest Washington and I’m going to graduate high school this year, 2013. Obviously, it’s time to start applying to colleges and I’m so clueless as to where to apply and what to do. I’ve done more research than anybody I know and it only clouds my vision even more. I was waiting for that one career or college to stand out and be an obvious choice but it hasn’t happened.</p>
<p>I hold my academics highly and have 3.97 unweighted GPA (the occasional B in a few classes) and am involved in Honors Society as well as Interact which is a division of Rotary which gives me hours and hours of volunteer work. I also have a 1760 on my SAT which I hop to get 1900 when I retake it next month.</p>
<p>I’m a very creative person and love art. I have no talent when it comes to drawing or painting but love the design process and creative aspects. I always try to think out the box.</p>
<p>There is one thing that I do know, and that is the fact that I want a college in a big city, an urban area. I’ve always had dreams of moving to New York City or L.A. But in essence, that is one of the only things I am sure of. My parents want me to attend a two year university close to home since I am undecided but that’s just not me. I know I don’t want to stay close to home but am open to the community college/ 2 year option.</p>
<p>So now to my question, should I listen to my parents and stay close? Or try something new? Also anything anybody could provide me on possible college fits, where to research, and any other advice possible.</p>
<p>So about $8,000 to $18,000. That is without room and board. But the money isn’t the number one priority, I know it’s hard to describe myself in just a few paragraphs, but any ideas on colleges that fit me is what I’m looking for. Thanks.</p>
<p>I’m in the exact same boat as you!!! My vision is so clouded!
What are your interests? Just follow that. Before anything else, follow what you want to do.</p>
<p>The first thing you need to do is find out how much your parents are ready, willing, and able to pay each year, and under what terms (distance, grades, behavior, etc.) they will pay that amount. When you have the money issue locked down, you will know whether or not you will have to consider affordability. If you don’t like your parents’ terms, you will know that it is time to do some serious research about paying for college on your own. For that, start in the financial aid forum.</p>
<p>There are lots of excellent urban schools for undecided kids (most kids are undecided and those that aren’t often change majors several times). You need to spend more time thinking about your selection criteria. </p>
<p>Does it have to be urban or can it be suburban with good links to the city? If it’s urban, does it have to have a defined college campus or can it be integrated into the city? How big? LAC or public U? How far from home are you willing to go? Will you parents allow you to go far from home, assuming you get in and can afford it? </p>
<p>As above, the first step is the money. $8-18k plus living expenses doesn’t get you into most private universities and your test scores will have to be considerably higher than 1900 to get merit scholarships in most places.</p>
<p>Money can be the number one priority whether you want it to be or not. Living at home and commuting is a $10K gift right there. If you have some in state public schools located in a city that you might like, look at the cost of lving. Say you want to come to NYC—most of our city schools that are state run, mostly the CUNYs have very limited housing ooptions. They tend to be commuter schools and the room/board costs are very high. Finding safe and convenient housing is not easy in NYC if you don’t know the ropes in a given area. </p>
<p>You like art? If you are very good at it, good enough to get some money with your portfolio, check out Cooper Union. They are also tuition free, but again, the living costs are high if you don’t have family nearby to live with. We know a family with a kid at NYU who is commuting this year, and it’s $400 for transportation only and he is still saving a huge amount over the room/board he was paying the year before. </p>
<p>A school like Manhattan College, right near Manhattan (acutally in NYC) might have scholarhship options to make it affordable if locale is a main factor.</p>
<p>Whatever you do. make sure you have some AFFORDABLE options on your list that will certainly take you. After that you can explore anything you want at any price and see what shakes out, though I recommend making sure even some of your lottery tickets have a pragmatic element. </p>
<p>My neighbor is an artist. In graphic design and highly successful. So is a friend of mine’s son. Neither of them went to schools known for art or anything to do with their fields and graduated with non arts Redirecting..., but ended up in these areas later. Both are in enviable jobs. So you don’t have to go to an art school to get art in your curriculum or in terms of a job.</p>
<p>Thank you M’s Mom and cptofthehouse. I know that money really is the number one priority whether or not I like it. And I know that living at home is obviously going to cut my expenses by a lot. But do I take that jump and try to move to somewhere like NYC?</p>
<p>And cptofthehouse, I have always thought of something like graphic design because it’s something I’m very interested in. Do you know what degrees they had that weren’t related to that career? </p>
<p>My parents have told me that they will be willing to take on my college expenses, but I feel like they have done so much for me as it is that I would like to try to do this with as little financial support from them. Wherever I go (or stay) I’ll get a job in addition to school. I know what’s realistic in my mind and I know what’s off limits.</p>