I think I just had a heart attack

PandaBurr · June 2010

I just checked my tuition statement for the summer and it's $7000 dollars.

I went to talk to the financial aid office yesterday about options for covering the gap between my grants, scholarships, and loans and the actual cost, and he pretty much said I'm shiit out of luck. When I told him I'll figure something out, he said "good luck" in a not very convincing manner. Damn being considering out-of-state. I think my total cost is estimated to be around $27k a year, not including summer. Originally I was hoping to finish both my BS and my Masters (credit option, not thesis option) in two years, but it looks like I'm going to have to get a job, so I won't be able to take as many credits as I intended. Le sigh.

/end rant.

PaigeMcC · June 2010

27K!?!?! That's almost 3 years of my degree..... LAAARDY!!

Kroliczku · June 2010

$7000 for Fall? Thats not too terrible....I have 21 credits for Fall and my tuition will be 7990 (but Im in state)....THANKFULLY it's covered by school grants, state money, and very small amount of federal loans. When you filled out your FAFSA did it give you your expected Family Contribution???? Was it was lower than what yo'll actually paying??? You might have to start looking into options like Salle Mae and stuff... If you want, I'll poke around and see what my Fin Aid office suggests...

PandaBurr · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_think-just-heart-attack?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:38013f6a-28ae-481c-a1ca-8e83e5128acdPost:606d84a9-4245-4e02-84aa-1553261e837d">Re: I think I just had a heart attack</a>:
[QUOTE]$7000 for Fall? Thats not too terrible....I have 21 credits for Fall and my tuition will be 7990 (but Im in state)....THANKFULLY it's covered by school grants, state money, and very small amount of federal loans. When you filled out your FAFSA did it give you your expected Family Contribution???? Was it was lower than what yo'll actually paying??? You might have to start looking into options like Salle Mae and stuff... If you want, I'll poke around and see what my Fin Aid office suggests...
Posted by Kroliczku[/QUOTE]

No, it's $7000 for summer quarter only. So my expected yearly if I take summer each year is around $34k. My expected family contribution is VERY low, but since I'm considered out of state, I do not qualify for any state need based funding. My options are drop out for a year to get residency, work 30 hours a week and take at least 6 credits per quarter for a year also to get residency, get a job to cover the difference between federal loans and the tuition, or take out private loans. My Pell grant is $4900, which isn't even enough to cover summer.

Ana_2985 · June 2010

You need a year to get residency? That's a long time. I'm supposed to become a resident and all I need to do is register to vote and get a new driver's license. But I dropped out, so there's no need.

$7000 out-of-pocket is a lot of money. I'm sorry you're having to re-think everything. I now know what it feels like to have to re-evaluate your plans and try to figure out how to make things work. Unfortunately, I haven't figured it out yet so I have no advice.

Are you in geology?

Kroliczku · June 2010

gooooooood lord, $7k for only SUMMER? If you have any savings (or anyone to help you) at all and don't want to push back the credit hours, I'd suggest taking the Pell and trying to organize a payment plan for the quarter to pay the rest. That's super rough...I'm not sure what I'd do. I hate to even suggest it- but private loans might be your friend.

PandaBurr · June 2010

I'm in mechanical engineering. It really sucks, but at this point, what can I do other than keep chugging along. The residency in this state for schools is tricky because they didn't want a bunch of students coming from out of state just for school, and then moving away as soon as they finished. So, if you're enrolled in 6 or more credits during the time you live here, you're considered to be living here only for school, hence the 30 hours a week of work requirement. It's kinda lame for me, but it's understandable that they wouldn't want their state funding to go to nonresidents.

As for the payments, it's due on the third Friday of the quarter. I asked about deferment and payment plans and he said there aren't any. I'll get a late fee tacked on if I don't pay by then.

Kroliczku · June 2010

Is there anyway you can maybe fib and make your residency look a little longer than it really is? Not that I'd EVER suggest that.....just wondering out loud!

Mechanical Engineering- wow, impressive. With a degree and Masters plan it may be worth it in the long run to wait it out and get the state funding. BUT- if you work 30 hours, when you build your FAFSA next year, your income will be a lot higher and you won't get as much money anyway.

All of that in mind, I'd say: Take the 6 credits (2 classes?) and work until you get residency. It will help you out a LOT financially, and by next year you won't have to worry about working to cover school.

PandaBurr · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_think-just-heart-attack?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:38013f6a-28ae-481c-a1ca-8e83e5128acdPost:917ce9e9-b9e4-4bf4-b62f-6f0552b03d80">Re: I think I just had a heart attack</a>:
[QUOTE]Is there anyway you can maybe fib and make your residency look a little longer than it really is? Not that I'd EVER suggest that.....just wondering out loud! Mechanical Engineering- wow, impressive. With a degree and Masters plan it may be worth it in the long run to wait it out and get the state funding. BUT- if you work 30 hours, when you build your FAFSA next year, your income will be a lot higher and you won't get as much money anyway. All of that in mind, I'd say: Take the 6 credits (2 classes?) and work until you get residency. It will help you out a LOT financially, and by next year you won't have to worry about working to cover school.
Posted by Kroliczku[/QUOTE]

It doesn't really matter what I tell them, since I've been enrolled in school, which they know from my transcripts.

The other thing is, my FI is graduating next year, so I was considering dropping out for a year and working since we'll most likely move once he's done anyway.

I think I'm gonna look at the Parent PLUS loans, and have my parents apply for those, and have them get denied (almost certainly will be). Once that happens, my yearly alloted loans will go up to whatever my parents would have been able to take out. From there, I think the guy said it's like a $1600 difference per quarter I need to make up. I think we can handle that with my FI's pay as a research assistant.

Ana_2985 · June 2010

Oh I see. I guess my case is different - the school was paying for me so they wanted me to become a resident so they wouldn't have to pay out-of-state rates.

Yes, I definitely think you should stick with it even though it will be difficult. If you are going to consider personal loans, you should look into joining a credit union. In my state, you can only join if a family member works for the state or if you attend a state university. But it's definitely worth checking out because the interest rates are much lower than other loan types.

Kroliczku · June 2010

Sounds like you have a pretty solid plan. Wish you much luck! I know how aggravating it can be to build a plan just to PAY for college (let alone finding the time to do everything else that comes with it. oi.) Nice that you have a FI to help you through it as well

ljewel422 · June 2010

My undergrad was ~ $33K a year, NOT including room and board, books, etc. I think it's insane what it costs for higher education in this country.

Good luck!

Ana_2985 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_think-just-heart-attack?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:38013f6a-28ae-481c-a1ca-8e83e5128acdPost:7e6b2eda-670f-46d6-bbf7-74b34bd841e3">Re: I think I just had a heart attack</a>:
[QUOTE]My undergrad was ~ $33K a year, NOT including room and board, books, etc. I think it's insane what it costs for higher education in this country. Good luck!
Posted by ljewel422[/QUOTE]

Well, to be fair you didn't have to choose a school that cost $33,000+ a year.

Kroliczku · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_think-just-heart-attack?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:38013f6a-28ae-481c-a1ca-8e83e5128acdPost:11152eb2-2ec5-4ac1-a760-f403c988afe4">Re: I think I just had a heart attack</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I think I just had a heart attack : Well, to be fair you didn't have to choose a school that cost $33,000+ a year.
Posted by Ana_2985[/QUOTE]<div>
For SUPER sure. Especially since you're located in Philly. LOTS of options. I'm going to a great school, well known for my major with an awesome facility. It's not the cheapest school in the area, but not out of my price range, and I live off campus to save money on room/board. Summers are trickiest though because they don't accept or offer any financial aid for either Summer session.</div>

ljewel422 · June 2010

Of course I didn't. But I felt that if I got accepted to this particular school, I wouldn't turn down an opportunity to go there. I did get scholarships and whatnot, but it did cost a pretty penny out of pocket. And I'm not from Philly originally, so I had to pay out of state costs and whatnot.

Kroliczku · June 2010

Aaagggghhh out of state costs!! Sometimes I take for granted that I get in-state rates. Side question: You weren't from Philly, but went to school here. Did you stay here or move away after school??

PandaBurr · June 2010

I feel pretty lucky to have FI help me out so much. I'm lucky I don't have to worry about living expenses and stuff like that. Man, I guess this means we're gonna have to JOP it after I graduate since we'll be swimming in student loans. Oh well. C'est la vie!

ljewel422 · June 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_think-just-heart-attack?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:38013f6a-28ae-481c-a1ca-8e83e5128acdPost:05257764-cc2f-4073-b12b-630c228e015c">Re: I think I just had a heart attack</a>:
[QUOTE]Aaagggghhh out of state costs!! Sometimes I take for granted that I get in-state rates. Side question: You weren't from Philly, but went to school here. Did you stay here or move away after school??
Posted by Kroliczku[/QUOTE]

I'm from Vermont, originally. Did my undergrad at UPenn, majored in finance. Met my BF in the middle of my senior year (he was my TA). Decided I liked Philly more than I ever liked VT and got a job at an accounting firm. Wound up moving in with BF, and then after working about a year and half in finance, decided it wasn't for me. I went back to law school at UPenn. *exhales*

PandaBurr · June 2010

Does anyone else hate that the background is a clickable ad?

sapphirebaby926 · June 2010

Hope things work out for you Panda - it sucks that they aren't going to work iwth you on it though

And yes I hate the clickable ad background

Kroliczku · June 2010

Panda- TY for being the one to say it. If i end up on Helzberg Diamonds website one more time, Im going to SCREAM.

ljewel- very nice!!! I'm Intl' Business but focusing on Accounting: BF is here working at big public accounting firm, which is where Im hoping to go as well- but we will both move after I get some work experience. Haaaaaaate it here. (Orig from NJ, but went to school for beginning of Bacherlors in Chicago.)

ljewel422 · June 2010

Kro - Best of luck to you!

And yes, the Helzberg ad makes me want to take a bat to my monitor.

ekathleen684 · June 2010

I have the window only taking up 1/2 of my screen so the Helzberg ad is not to be seen/accidently clicked. Due to the size of my monitor at home, I click it about 6 times/night.

leia1979 · June 2010

That sucks about the pricey tuition, PandaBurr. Are you at UW?

At least know you should be able to get a good paying job with a BSME. All the mechanical engineers I know (and I work with a lot of them) do very well.

Maere · June 2010

I'll trade you places if you want.. that's half my tuition. O.o

jeanacorina · June 2010

Panda, I have totally been through this. When I was younger I couldn't pay for school any which way I turned it. I'd enroll, and try, and have to borrow money from my grandparents to finish out the semester before dropping out again. It was awful and heartbreaking.

Don't give up. *hugs*

PandaBurr · June 2010

leia- Yeah, I just transferred from a community college. I love the school, but it was a pretty big sticker shock, haha.

Maere- Do you go to a private school?

jeana- Thanks! *huggles* I gotta keep reminding myself why I chose this major in the first place. Disneyland.

(Imagineer, yadda yadda)

jeanacorina · June 2010

That sounds like an AMAZING job! Certainly worth all the crap trying to pay for school.

PandaBurr · June 2010

I know huh! Just thinking about it makes me wanna squee. I know they're not the greatest comopany to work for (I've worked for them before), but I'm one of those crazy Disney nuts that people make fun of, so I didn't mind being a grunt for them.

[Deleted User] · June 2010

I think I just had a heart attack for you. That suuuuuucks.

I think I just had a heart attack

Re: I think I just had a heart attack

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