<p>Say I get accepted to a well known local university which has a COA for commuters of around $12000 (it’s a UC, so yeah…) and a not as well known OOS university with a slightly higher COA (say, around $15k). Would the residential “experience” be worth the extra cost? I don’t want to leave college w/o a network, but I don’t want to be in a lot of debt or burden my parents.</p>
<p>OK, networks are what you make of it. You can be a commuter student and get a good college experience.</p>
<p>You have not provided details and without details it is difficult to make suggestions. There is a big difference between say UC Berkley and UC Merced. So which UC are you talking about? What is your major? What is the the OOS university? What are you financials? if you can give some more details, may be someone can weigh in. You are talking of a $3000 difference, which over 4 years is about $15000 (assuming some increases and travel cost to the OOS university). If your parents are going to find it difficult to meet the 12K for the UC, then why are you thinking of another 15K for an OOS?</p>
<p>UCSB is the UC I am talking about. The thing I am worried about is that a lot of kids here (a few exceptions, of course) who commute stay at home all the time and don’t seem to get involved too much.</p>
<p>What is the other school?</p>
<p>It’s just hypothetical. Some WUE schools have that amount after the tuition discount, as well as some schools in the Midwest.</p>
<p>I don’t know if I’m gonna have to pick between these choices…a few schools do offer pretty nice automatic scholarships (Alabama universities, of course, but also LSU). But if I do have to make the choice, is living on campus worth the extra cost, assuming the residential college is less well known?</p>
<p>Luckily, you don’t have to make this choice yet.</p>
<p>UCSB will have many residential students. Would you feel disconnected from them if you’re a commuter? </p>
<p>Refresh our memories for your financial situation. I’m somehow remembering that your parents want to limit their contribution to about $10k per year. Is that right?</p>
<p>
Yeah, that is a concern. Many of the students don’t seem to know the area very well. They seem to behave a lot more like tourists than residents, and you don’t see a lot of students floating around the community unless they have a job.
Yep. Of course, naturally, they don’t really want to pay anything, which is understandable.</p>
<p>UCs are not known for their networks, though if you want to live in SB after you graduate it may be the better choice.</p>
<p>There is a lot to be said for having a full college experience away from home and living in dorms.</p>