<p>I asked my parents about taking a loan and we can’t afford anything but community college (no state university ever) and they want to choose my college and I’ll have to go with it. I’m definitely not going to college at all. And I think I’ll look into Job Corps. </p>
<p>I took the SATs over the summer (the summer of 9th grade) just to familiarize myself with the test again (I took it in 7th grade) and I got 1900-2000. </p>
<p>EDIT: 1900-2000</p>
<p>Talk to your guidance counselor! Tell them the issues that you have.
They may have solutions you are not aware of.</p>
<p>Can’t study at home? Can you go to the library or a friends and study?
Why do your parents have to choose your college? So they can afford it? Talk to your counselor adn get recommendatuions on affordable colleges.
Can’t afford college? Like others say, the poorer you are, the more financial aid you get.</p>
<p>A 3.2, 2000 SAT and a smattering of ECs will get you into loads of respectable and reasonably priced schools. </p>
<p>What state do you live in?</p>
<p>That info will help folks here better understand your educational and employment options.</p>
<p>Also, most colleges have ‘net price calculators’ (search you local state college web site) where you enter info about your parents income, etc and it spits back what you can expect to pay. I bet the results will shock you.</p>
<p>National Guard or ROTC is another way to pay for college.</p>
<p>People are right that you don’t know what your parents will even be expected to pay. You may have a very low family contribution. Assuming your parents would be willing to fill out the FAFSA, the cost of attendance might be low enough that either they would pay it or you could do so yourself with the money you should be able to save up by working between now and then. </p>
<p>In any case, even in the absolute worst case scenario, you won’t “never” be able to go to college. Nationally, about a third of college students are over 25 years old. If your parents are willing to pay for CC, you’ll be halfway to a BA already. There is no reason you can’t at some point in your 20s, maybe if not immediately after finishing at CC, get a degree. Even if your parents won’t help you apply for financial aid, by 24 you are considered independent for the purposes of federal aid. And at a certain point (I’m not sure when), if you’ve been working and have some money of your own, you will be eligible for a loan without needing your parents to cosign.</p>
<p>I don’t know, college doesn’t seem possible at this point. I live in Florida but there are no colleges in my city that have many courses. And I probably won’t be able to choose anyway. Thanks for all the help though!</p>
<p>I’m glad that you’re appreciative, but at this point, it seems to me like you’re just sabotaging yourself. </p>
<p>You say that there is no college in your city with “many courses.” OK, but that means there is a college in your city with some courses that, presumably, awards degrees. Plus, many colleges allow students to take a certain number of courses online. </p>
<p>You say that your parents won’t let you choose what school to go to. But you’ve also indicated that they would pay, or help to pay, for CC, and you haven’t given any information on why your parents are restricting your choices. Is it purely financial? If so, they may be unaware of options that would make it affordable. Are they religious fundamentalists who control your every move? If so, you are going to need to get free at some point, which may indeed mean delaying college, but doesn’t make dropping out of high school anything but an awful idea. And if they will pay for a particular 4 year school, what makes it such a bad option for you?</p>
<p>And if for some reason none of this works, why can’t you still graduate high school and then go back to college at 24 when your level of aid won’t be contingent on your parents’ income and/or willingness to fill out a financial aid form?</p>
<p>You don’t have it easy, but nothing you’ve said suggests to me that you are in an impossible situation. Stop looking for excuses to give up.</p>
<p>I asked my mom again and I checked the cost of the community college near me and it’s waaay too expensive for us. The local community college near us costs 11,000 dollars per year. We can only pay 5,000-6,000 dollars a year (even with a loan). And we make 75,000 dollars a year so no financial aid for us. I also probably wouldn’t be able to get into any college at age 23-24. So working seems like the best option for me.</p>
<p>Going to finish high school and maybe go to college. I don’t want to rely on excuses.</p>
<p>Great first Step!</p>
<p>It looks to me like Florida community colleges cost aroud $100-$120 for residents. If you take 15 units a semester, that’s under $2k per semester including books. Well within your budget. </p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>I agree with the other parents: suck it up, finish high school and investigate college. </p>
<p>Whatever you do DON’T go to a for profit technical school like Collins. Graphic designers are going the way of the bank teller and travel agency…too many people can do to much for themselves on a decent computer.</p>
<p>With a 3.1-3.4 you can get into a lot of good colleges - and if that’s 3.4-3.5 + 1900-2000 SAT + Extracurriculars OR a job with a real time commitment, you can probably get into a “100%” school (the schools that are the most generous for financial aid for lower income student, meaning that they cover 100% of your financial need.) At those schools, you qualify for financial aid up to 150k/year. In addition, Florida students with your averages have Bright Futures.
<a href=“Home - Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs”>Home - Florida Student Scholarship & Grant Programs;
With those SAT scores and a 3.5, you qualify for several merti scholarships at private colleges, too.
If you can’t study at home, study at your school’s library. Your town must have a public library, too, where you can study.
And I’ll second (third) it: choose public, educational private, but not “for profit”. As the name indicates, it means they exist to make money off of you, not to educate you. Rather than graphic design, look into digital arts.
UF has a great major but you’d need to step up your game to get in:
<a href=“https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/engineering/majors/digital-arts-and-sciences.aspx[/url]”>https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/engineering/majors/digital-arts-and-sciences.aspx</a>
Northeastern has a major that includes co-ops (meaning you work and earn money during college and get an awesome resume in the process). Once again you’ll need to increase your GPA to at least 3.5 and get that 2000 on the SAT.
[BFA</a> in Digital Art | Art + Design | College of Arts, Media and Design | Northeastern University](<a href=“http://www.northeastern.edu/camd/artdesign/academic-programs/bfa-in-digital-art/]BFA”>http://www.northeastern.edu/camd/artdesign/academic-programs/bfa-in-digital-art/)
UCF, UTampa, and Stetson have it too, I think, and you’d probably get financial aid + merit scholarships at UTampa and Stetson. If you want to leave FL, SUNY Alfred would also be fairly cheap even OOS and you’d qualify for a scholarship. Elon and Hamline may also be possibilities with financial aid if you get to 3.4 and 1900-2000 SAT.
More difficult to get into (about the same as UCF), RIT, which is also a fairly good guarantee of finding a job 
Finally, all community college students with a 3.0 are guaranteed admission to a Florida public, 4-year college, and you’ll be able to use Bright Futures. So… chin up!
Stay in school, get good grades, and odds are good you’ll go to college.
In the meanwhile, since you’re worried about finances, check out “The College Solution” blog and the website “DIY college rankings”, there’s a “how to find colleges in Florida”.</p>
<p>Awesome post, MYOS.</p>
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<p>Wow, this is a really helpful post! Thank you so much!!! I think I might be able to get a 3.7 W gpa by senior year though the highest UW gpa I can get is 3.45.</p>
<p>This advice will probably fly in the face of most advice on this website, but try to choose your high school classes based on what you will do well in, and choose teachers that give good grades. That will boost your GPA. For students not going to super tippy-top schools, it is better to have good classes with great grades than great classes with so-so grades. Get some test prep books from your library and take any test prep classes that your school offers. That will put you in a good place for high gpa and good test scores!</p>
<p>My GPA might actually end up being higher than I expected (since I’m doing two extra classes online after school and I’m repeating a few classes too). I think I might take two extra electives online to replace my terrible french grade in 9th grade and take AP Physics in 11th or 12th grade to replace my bad physics grade (my online school was very weird, most freshmen don’t take physics, we’re supposed to either take chemistry or biology, at least in Florida). I also have a few A/B middle school grades that actually count as high school credits (since I was in an advanced program).</p>
<p>OP, no one has asked about your home life. Are you safe in your home? Do you get food, clothing, shelter and no abuse? Are you loved? If you are having physical struggles at home, then all this advice will be hard to follow if your basic needs are not being met.</p>
<p>I am hoping you are okay at home, but wanted to ask in case you are scared in your home.</p>
<p>There are adults you can trust with your situation, and there is help if it is needed. Speak with a trusted teacher or guidance counselor at school.</p>
<p>If you are not in danger at home, what is keeping you from being able to study? (Don’t have to answer this.) You seem like a smart kid, and I think you can figure out alternate locations…friends’ houses library, staying after school, hanging out at local starbucks or mcdonalds, etc.</p>
<p>There are a lot of folks that can be your cheerleaders in life. It’s great if your parents can be your biggest cheerleaders, but if not, you can choose the mentors that you look up to. Overcoming issues that you didn’t create doesn’t seem fair in life, but looking back from the other side, you will be proud of yourself for working hard and making it happen.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>An upward trend in grades, especially with good junior year ones will “erase” a bad first year or two. Your SAT scores are good, especially for your grade level. Sounds like you would plan on living at home regardless of what you do next year.</p>
<p>As above- talk with your HS guidance counselor. A lot of growing up/maturing will happen by the time you are a HS senior. Colleges won’t care about your age, especially if you spend four years in HS and get the degree.</p>
<p>Sounds like you have decided to stay in school- best decision you can make at this stage in life. Work on your study habits, do the school work even if it is boring and reassess your situation one year from now. I’ll bet you will find plenty of good options. Extra effort now will pay off for your immediate and later future.</p>
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<p>I hope so. I’m going to try to get a 2350-2400 on the SAT though (I didn’t study the first time I took it). I’d like to move out right after I graduate high school but I’m definitely staying at home for the next 2-3 years. </p>
<p>I have and she’s been really helpful so far. She’s helping me participate in this high school program after school to help me raise my GPA. </p>
<p>I think so too, I don’t want to be behind everyone else when I go to college and I get to participate in ECs. I will and I’ll try.</p>
<p>DoILikeCats, thank you for checking in and giving us news. Do keep us updated with your progress. You sound bright and articulate. With that afterschool program I hope things will get better for you. Find EC’s to get involved in, too. And those bad grades that can be “erased”? Awesome news! 
Remember that there are LOTS of colleges that will want you with a 3.4 and 2000-2100 SAT, and will give you money to attend. Remember there’s “Bright Futures”, too. In short, stay focused, don’t despair, do everything you can and you’ll be able to “escape”.
I second powercropper though: if your homelife is unsafe, find a trusted adult to confide in and see how it can be made better.</p>
<p>Colleges will forgive some less than stellar freshman grades. Don’t overestimate your SAT scores, that 2300 may be unrealistic. The CR and M scores are much more important than the W. My kids got a 2260 and 2140 respectively and that was good enough to get them into some of the top rated colleges in the country. (Though they each got rejected from some top rated colleges as well.) Over 2000 is probably good enough for almost anywhere.</p>