Okay, so the situation… I have been accepted into two very different schools for two very different majors. I have been accepted to the D.A.V.E. School which is a 1 year program for digital animation and visual effects. I have always really wanted to do something with animation or movie making. It is only for a certificate and costs $45000, but then I’m done after 1 year. I hear it is intense and since I have no experience with the software it would be that much more difficult, although I’m sure if I try my best and really want it I can do it. I also got accepted into University of Central Florida for hospitality. I have also been debating the thought of hospitality event planner sort of career. This is something I feel like I know I can do whereas with the other I am not sure if I will be good enough for. You know it’s an art career. Only the best of the best make it. UCF would be 3 years for me and cost about $30000 a year .I would be living in an apartment since I got accepted so late and housing is full. My parents flat out said they are not helping me if I go to UCF, but at UCF I would get a college experience where DAVE I would not. I can’t go back and get that college experience later because it just won’t be the same when I am older. I either want to go now or not at all. This is the hardest decision I have ever tried to make.I already have an associates degree and am at a point where I have to make a decision. My parents have told me I basically am not allowed to change my mind, what I choose I have to stick with otherwise they will end up not helping me. I just can’t decide which career I really want to go for. I am not asking anyone to decide for me, but how should I go about making up my mind? I am really out of time.
I’m not seeing a choice here. How will you pay for UCF if your parents aren’t helping? You can’t borrow that much (and shouldn’t). How will you pay for DAVE, for that matter?
The way you make it sound is that I can’t go to school period. My parents will cosign for DAVE. It’s like even if I went to any college I’m going to have to borrow a lot of money. Anyway, I looked up more about UCF and because I wouldn’t be living in their housing it’s only about 24,000 a year so like 62000 total. I would work to pay for housing and living. Also, my parents think I can get the loan and my parents (dad anyway) is willing to cosign for whatever I can’t get but not more than 45000 since I have siblings right after me. It’s not so much how do I choose a school as how do I choose the major. That’s the most important thing to me.
It looks like they are not helping you in any case.
Parent cosigned loans are generally a bad idea for both the student and parents.
You may have to wait until you are 24, married, or a military veteran in order to get better financial aid without your parents’ income and wealth affecting financial aid.
Waiting 4 more years is not an option. I cannot live at home if I am not in school and I do not want to wait that long to get that college experience. Anyway I have made up my mind. I probably just need to write it out.