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<p>It may try, but for the vast majority of Americans it fails. We should be ashamed.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>higher education isn’t a right. I think America does try to do a good job providing some options for lower income kids. </p>
<p>However, a gov’t system that would provide free higher education would likely result in something that resembles our public k-12 system with people forced to attend a certain college because that’s what they’re zoned for (unless you can opt out by paying for private.)</p>
<p>That said…as it is…the FAFSA system stinks. It encourages people to lie, hide assets, etc. It doesn’t include a father’s income if he doesn’t have custody - even if his income is strong AND he’s been in the child’s life. (Frankly, the child-support enforcement system is what we should be ashamed of…we wouldn’t have as many low income kids if their bio dads were forced to support them.)</p>
<p>I agree with Momof2 in that our system tries to accomodate as many people as possible. Zero EFC is a hurdle but one that is possible to navigate. The OP should carefully investigate options including a plan that includes 2 years at their local CC and a transfer as well as other options with schools that meet as close to full need as possible. Like a previous posters says, sometimes on CC kids or parents think it is a benefit when the kids have a true statistical chance at some of the loan free schools, but for the vast majority no money for colleges is much more a hurdle than a benefit.</p>
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<p>This is a problem here on CC. I’ve seen many cases where the first thing someone posts is…apply to HYPs, you can go there for free. When in reality, admission is like playing the lottery, and HYPS probably has very few truly low income kids.</p>
<p>The other problem here on CC and elsewhere is that people think F/A is free money. They think, “If I can just qualify for F/A, I can go for free or get a lot of free money.” Most have no idea that they will likely receive an F/A package that has a big gap, expects them to borrow thousands of dollars in student loans, and/or has declared that their family has an unaffordable EFC. “Need” is not defined by the family.</p>
<p>If there is a bright side to 0 EFC it is that the student is forced to make realistic decisions. At some point even much wealthier apps have to make some decisions based on their finances. For low incomes college application is that time. My oldest D wanted to go to a large college and study journalism/broadcasting but at our income level her choices were very slim- kind of like this op’s. Towards the end of the process we all became realistic about our finances and she ended up getting a very good finaid package from a LAC. Turned out fine. My youngest D wanted to go to a large state school - football, frats etc. No could do. She had to face up to things and went elsewhere, so far so good. The important thing when you are low income is to make sure you carefully choose your colleges of application. Don’t waste time and money on places you are not likely to get into and don’t waste time on schools whose aid profiles indicate you can’t afford to go there. For D2 we ended up with a list of schools that seemed like good financial/academic possibilities - the beauty of the internet and sites like this. When the dust settled she had several options and made her choice from them. At 0 EFC that’s the goal of the process - to have several sensible options come May. Without super stats, at 0 EFC that’s quite a challenge</p>
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<p>Yes! without near-perfect stats and a hook that catches its bait, any low EFC student is going to have a challenge. But, a similar challenge can also be found with students whose parents have high EFCs that they can’t afford. Those, too, limit choices.</p>
<p>OP I have a efc 0 myself and have no intentions on attending a community college which you don’t have to either ( as other posters were suggesting you should). There are tons of universities out there where having good stats and a efc 0 benefits ( possibly full ride in some cases). Simply have to seek out the schools.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>There are likely some, but not a ton without high stats. Good stats and 0 EFC is not going to give you a “ton” of choices.</p>
<p>Sadly I have to second that opinion</p>
<p>Agree with posts 28 and 29. People are not suggesting CC + transfer as the only choice, they are saying that it should be one of a series of possibilities. Also agree that there are possibilities out there but not “a ton” for a student with no college finances already in place and a less than superstar application.</p>
<p>Have you considered taking the SAT again? If you can get your SAT over a 1440 (math and critical reading), you have a shot at a full tuition scholarship from the University of Pittsburgh. After that, room and board is $10,000. Your Pell Grant will cover about $4000. Work study and summer money can cover books and living expenses, and if you work hard you could cut down another $1000 from tuition. That leaves you $5000 to pay or borrow each year. If you work hard on outside scholarships, you could bring that cost down. It’s possible to go to the University of Pittsburgh, or any school at which you qualify for a full tuition merit scholarship, but there are a LOT of IFs and at least $20,000 of debt.</p>
<p>Well so much for the american dream then… its not all its made out to be. </p>
<p>…That was probably too harsh, but all well. I understand that my EFC hurts me. That was made abundantly clear within the first page. But due to my career choice, I ONLY have large colleges. ABET approves nuclear engineering at:
Air Force Institute of Technology ,OH, United States<br>
University of California, Berkeley ,CA, United States<br>
University of Florida ,FL, United States<br>
Georgia Institute of Technology ,GA, United States<br>
Idaho State University ,ID, United States<br>
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ,IL, United States<br>
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ,MA, United States<br>
University of Massachusetts Lowell ,MA, United States<br>
University of Michigan ,MI, United States<br>
Missouri University of Science and Technology ,MO, United States<br>
University of New Mexico ,NM, United States<br>
North Carolina State University at Raleigh ,NC, United States<br>
Oregon State University ,OR, United States<br>
Pennsylvania State University ,PA, United States<br>
Purdue University at West Lafayette ,IN, United States<br>
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ,NY, United States<br>
South Carolina State University ,SC, United States<br>
University of Tennessee at Knoxville ,TN, United States<br>
Texas A & M University ,TX, United States<br>
United States Military Academy ,NY, United States<br>
University of Wisconsin-Madison ,WI, United States </p>
<p>None of these are slouches to get into and notice how NONE are in VA (which is Ironic as hell because The Navy is here, Areva is here, their are several reactors used within the state, and we have the largest undeveloped uranium mine in the U.S.). I’m applying to Florida, GT, Illinois, MIT, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue, TAMU, and Wisconsin. A lot of people will probably criticize me for it, but, from the list, those are the ones I liked most and they represent a relatively broad range of difficulties.<br>
However, due to the financial dillema that has clearly been laid out and critiqued, I probably wont be able to afford any except for MIT. But I wont get in there 99.9% of the time anyway. That is why I am also applying to VCU. Its a local college that has absolutley no respect on the national level for engineering but they have presented me with an interesting situation. The local power company is beginning to use nuclear reactors and is pressing them to start up a “nuclear tract” within their mechanical degree(non ABET approved of course but whatever). So if I graduate (I KNOW I can get in there) from VCU I would have an excellent chance with the local power company. It will be my safety valve. I don’t want to stay in VA for the rest of my life but it sure as hell beats the alternative of applying to all of the bigger schools and not going at all. I’m also of the opinion that taking a non approved ABET school beats any “CC and transfer” scenario since I would have a hard time transferring from a CC in VA to an OS, ABET approved, school for one of the hardest fields. </p>
<p>So in the end its a go big or go home (literaly) scenario. Scenario 1 is I get into and afford OS school. Or Scenario 2 is I go to a college 20 mins down the road and work with the local power company the next 10+ years. Both options are “successful” and good. I understand that. I just don’t want to stay here in central VA for the rest of my life with a degree from a college that only people in VA would care about. I’m sure yall understand that. But thats what I’m doin. Thats my plan. </p>
<p>O and just in case I haven’t mentioned… I can get in-state at GT due to a clause that nuclear engineering isn’t “distinctly” offered in VA. I never really cared for GT because of the student life I have heard/read about and the ratio of guys to girls is rediculous. But If I can afford there then I will by ALL means go there and not VCU. I can suffer through 4 years of testosterone for a top rated engineering school.</p>
<p>Any comments, questions, critiques, concerns, or jokes about it, then fire away. I’m all ears when it comes to my future.</p>
<p>I think GT is your best option because of the tuition exchange. RPI is another possibility, but your stats are a bit too low.</p>
<p>The problem with state schools is that most don’t always have the ability to meet “need” for their in-state students, much less for their OOS students. </p>
<p>Penn St does not meet need for its own students, and you’re OOS.
UIUC doesn’t meet need either for OOS; neither do the UCs
Purdue is also bad with OOS…I could go on.</p>
<p>Stick with GT and privates that will meet need. Your stats are too low for merit at publics.</p>
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<p>The Navy has their own Nuke School. This is why I asked if you had any interest in the Navy.
You should talk to people about their career paths and keep your mind open and your attitude positive.</p>
<p>congrats. looks like youre developing some options. Don’t forget to put your dream school on the list just in case and a financial non nuclear related safety if you can find one, just in case you change your mind.</p>
<p>“There is a way - you could major in Mech eng and then get a Masters in Nuke”</p>
<p>Very true. I’ve asked on CC before in the engineering threads about the option but I never got too much of a response. I’ve considered it heavily and thought it might be right but I’m not “commited” to the masters idea yet (right now its what I think I want but 4 years from now I might change my mind). And in the event I decide I don’t want a masters I would rather have undergrad in nuclear. </p>
<p>I dunno. I’ll dwell on it some more. But very good point.</p>
<p>HEY I just remembered. Lehigh gives GREAT aid. espesh if you’re a minority though. lol maybe even exclusively so. but it’s in PA. so maybe look into it?</p>
<p>EDIT: <em>facepalm</em> really? you have to do nuclear? really? that’s getting rid of a lot of great schools. for your sake, I hope you don’t have a moment of sudden clarity during college where you change your mind about your major and don’t love your school 
ehh good luck lol. I’m just kinda bummed for you b/c your major choice is closing a LOT of doors :(</p>
<p>Lehigh sounds like a good bet. It’s also no loan for low incomes.</p>