college q

[raindr0ps]

right now I’m looking at two private catholic colleges.

One costs $32,000 a year, but is offering my $22,000 in scholarships/grants and $8,000 in loans. I would graduate about $30,000 in debt at the most.

The other costs $30,000 a year and I’d be lucky if I got $10,000 in scholarships & grants. I’m still waiting on aid into, but I would likely graduate about $50,000 in debt. (if it would be any more than that, this college out of the question)

The only thing I like about the first college is the cost. They’re unorthodox, there isn’t a catholic atmosphere on campus, they’re further away than I’d like, etc, etc, etc. I could live if I went there though, and I can see myself doing ok & happy. It’s just not ideal by any means.

The only thing I don’t like about the second is the cost. They are hardcore catholic, orthodox, the Catholicism is evident simply by walking around campus (no this isn’t Steubie), it’s close to home, etc, etc, etc. It’s basically my dream school. Except for the cost.

I’m still waiting on aid info for the second college. Tomorrow I have to let the first college know if I’m attending their school, or I loose an $8000 scholarship. If I’m unable to afford second, I would probably attend the first. Except now I don’t have that option, because of the scholarship acceptance deadline. Should I throw away all my scholarships and grants at the first in the off chance that I can attend the second? Or should I go with the first assuming that I cannot afford the second and not wanting to loose the opportunity?

I could really use advice on this…

Community college for two years then transfer is also an option, although it’s a last resort.

 

[Nanny_PK]

Personally I would go to the school that would leave me the least amount of debt post-graduation. You could probably cut that debt down with a part-time job.

In an ideal world it would be great to go to the most orthodox school and have the best Catholic environment around you, but I think a lot of that could be done on our own – get involved with a local parish, make your home/dorm room as orthodox as you can.

Just my two cents.

 

[ChristinaM]

Give the first college’s financial aid office a call and see if they can’t extend that deadline for you. I think the situation you are in - waiting to hear about aid from another college - is not that uncommon. (You probably should have tried this earlier since the deadline is today…but not much you can do about it now.)

 

[Cat]

Go to the school of your dreams. Yes, it’s debt, but consider college debt a GOOD debt, like a house loan. This isn’t the same kind of debt as charging a new wardrobe or a trip to Las Vegas.

The interest rate on college loans is very low, and if you stick with a pay-back plan, you’ll pay it back. Depending on what field you go into, sometimes your employer will pay it back. (Physical therapy, e.g.)

You can NEVER pay back bad years in a school that does not nourish your soul and that makes you unhappy and nervous and causes you to become disillusioned with humanity or with your faith.

I agree that at the cheaper school, you can get involved in parish life, but that often means a car and that adds to your costs and worries.

Besides, depending on your major, you’ll find that it’s hard to mix school and community life; often the parties or the studying will keep you awake and you’ll be so tired that you don’t even want to get up and go to Church, let alone get involved in parish life. It’s amazing how easy it is to forget all about the “outside world” when you’re in college. Your friends become your major support and social group. And that’s why it’s important to go to a school where the majority of the students will think like you and have interests and faith in common with you–these are the people you will be friends with for four years and possibly for the rest of your life.

 

[Maryamh]

Which school has the best program for what you want to go to school for? That should be a major consideration for you. As others have said you can make your attendence at the school whatever you want it to be.
Get the best education that you can and look in the community for opportunities to practice and develop your faith.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Having had four children who have had various educational experiences, here’s my take:

-A quasi-Catholic college isn’t worth the money it takes to go there, and you’ll have your faith challenged constantly so that you’ll start questioning it yourself or be angry half the time. My son first attended a “Catholic” university that really wasn’t, and transferred to a conservative state university because, as he said, “At least I don’t have to listen to anti-Catholicism there all the time.” And he didn’t,either.

-Save the big expense and debt for graduate school. Even if you don’t know now that you’ll go to grad school, going into it with a $50m debt if you do go is too, too much.

 

[takers]

Is there a pentalty if you accept the first school’s offer and then rescind at a later time? If not, you might want to accept now and wait and see.

Personally, $50,000 of debt is a LOT to graduate with. Especially when you consider that a basic college education (not looking at specializations) is pretty much the same wherever you go. And just because you’re on a more Catholic campus doesn’t mean you still won’t be tempted or run into bad situations. The likelihood is less but not guaranteed.

 

[jlyn1110]

If the two colleges are comparable in size and programming, call the school you really want to go to and see if they can “re-work” your financial aid to better match the deal you got from the other school. If you have ANY sort of unusual circumstances (paying for college completely on your own, only 1 parent working, many siblings, stellar grades, interested in an uncommon major) USE THEM TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

Universities are businesses. Even if your tuition and rooming are paid for, your existence on a particular campus is an opportunity for the university to make money. No matter how careful you are about how you spend your money, you will inevitably end up buying SOMETHING (emergency umbrella, snack/drink, souvenir t-shirt for a Christmas present) from a university vendor. See what they are willing to do to get your business.

 

[noclevername]

What is your major?

Personally I wouldn’t go to either private college you mentioned. I would go to the community college for a couple of years and transfer to a state school. There is no reason to pay extra for a private school. I’ve been out in the world for a long time and I am always asked about my degree and GPA on a job interview (yes, I have to give my GPA for my line of work) but not once have I ever been asked what University I attended. And I’ve never been denied a job because I went to a state school.

So, it really doesn’t matter what school you went to as long as it’s an accredited university. If you can, try not to graduate college with a huge debt to pay. And as for Catholic student life, you can find churches and Catholic groups and any other type of group and any university you attend.

Good luck!!

 

[Jersey1234]

I would say go to which ever college will make you happy. I’m graduating with almost 6 figure in debt, however, it was the best four years and I would not have had this experience at any other college.
Go with your gut. Hopefully in 4-5 years when you graduate the job market will be better than it is for us 2009 graduates!

 

[Nanny_PK]

I would say go to which ever college will make you happy. I’m graduating with almost 6 figure in debt, however, it was the best four years and I would not have had this experience at any other college.
Go with your gut. Hopefully in 4-5 years when you graduate the job market will be better than it is for us 2009 graduates!

I respectfully disagree. That’s a big part of the reason why our country is in the condition it’s in, people getting on credit things that they cannot afford.

 

[raindr0ps]

Personally I would go to the school that would leave me the least amount of debt post-graduation. You could probably cut that debt down with a part-time job.

In an ideal world it would be great to go to the most orthodox school and have the best Catholic environment around you, but I think a lot of that could be done on our own – get involved with a local parish, make your home/dorm room as orthodox as you can.

Just my two cents.

What would you (or anyone else) consider to be the highest amount of debt one could accumulate from college? I know it’s relative, but just for a general cut off- like, “do not go if you’ll graduate with more than this debt” type of thing

Give the first college’s financial aid office a call and see if they can’t extend that deadline for you. I think the situation you are in - waiting to hear about aid from another college - is not that uncommon. (You probably should have tried this earlier since the deadline is today…but not much you can do about it now.)

hmm… I think I may do that.

This would be an easy decision if I had the aid info from the second college!

If the two colleges are comparable in size and programming, call the school you really want to go to and see if they can “re-work” your financial aid to better match the deal you got from the other school. If you have ANY sort of unusual circumstances (paying for college completely on your own, only 1 parent working, many siblings, stellar grades, interested in an uncommon major) USE THEM TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

hmm… I may have to try that if the financial aid info comes back not so good. Thanks!

My little bro will be in college in two years here too, so hopefully FASFA will come back better then… I hope

What is your major?

either theology & elementary education or theology & graphic design. Leaning towards the first.

My gut feeling is telling me to not go to the first school. Unorthodox theology, I would miss my little brothers and sisters birthdays and special occasions, I’ve talked to students who say they feel like they’re at a secular school, and I feel anxious whenever I think of attending there. But I still don’t want to be stupid and turn away amazing aid. I wish God would send me a billboard telling me what to do. haha

 

[Nanny_PK]

What would you (or anyone else) consider to be the highest amount of debt one could accumulate from college? I know it’s relative, but just for a general cut off- like, “do not go if you’ll graduate with more than this debt” type of thing

I would do my best to have as little debt as possible – I’m a big Dave Ramsey follower. However, if student loan debt is the absolute only way, I would say evaluate what you’re going to get a degree in and what you want to do and what you’ll expect to make as a salary. One example that I heard on the Dave Ramsey show was a woman went into student loan debt in the hundred thousand dollar range (to get her undergrad and her master’s) and she was a social worker making way less than $40,000 a year. Now, being a social worker is a noble choice; but she had placed herself in such a financial position that she would have a very difficult time repaying that. If, however, you’re going to be a neurosurgeon, a 100,000-dollar school loan would be able to be paid back almost immediately.

I think that would be the best advice I could give.

 

[Cat]

Any possibility of using your talent for graphic design to run a business from your dorm room? And are you any good at networking on and off line to get customers?

One of my daughter’s friends, an engineering major at U of Illinois, started a web design business in 2001 from his DORM ROOM. After one year, he had grossed over $100,000 dollars. (It helped that his father is a business owner who was able to give his son lots of contacts.) He kept up the business through college. No debt for that guy! (He’s married, BTW, ladies–last summer!)

Graphic design is a good part-time type business. There are always clubs, organizations, businesses, etc. looking for a new logo or something to put on a sign or t-shirt or pamphlet. Could you do this?

ALSO, if you are doing a theology major, you will possibly want to go to the unorthodox school to TEST your brain and your heart. You’ll learn “liberal” theology from the inside out and you’ll learn what makes these fellers tick, and that would be a valuable parcel of knowledge to have as you try to teach and write about orthodox, conservative theology. As a theology major, it’s always good to go somewhere that challenges you and MAKES you defend your beliefs. You’ll be more knowledgeable than if you go to a school that teaches what you already believe.

Same for elem ed–a “liberal” school will teach you all the “liberal” theories of education, and you’ll be able to know how to deal with these people after you graduate and get a job because you’ll understand them.

You’ll just have to search for that little group (and it will be very little) of true Catholics who are faithful to orthodox teachings.

My daughter is a SLU student (St. Louis University–a Jesuit college not known for its orthodoxy). She’s not even Catholic, but she went there because of their excellent medical programs. She was pretty miserable for the first two years because there were so many hypocrites and non-practicing Catholics and pagans. She did meet several extremely Catholic professors, and absolutely LOVED them.

In her Junior year (by then, all the losers had flunked out), she started meeting the more serious Catholics, and in her Senior year, roomed with two very serious Catholics, including a theology major. It was great year for her; she was Matron of Honor at that roommate’s wedding (it happened two weeks after my daughter got married!) and sang “Panis Angelicus” and made the guests cry! Often these serious Catholics would drag her to Mass, which was great. She’s not Catholic yet, but she prefers attending a Catholic Mass to a Protestant worship service. And a few weekends ago, she was invited by the Head of her college to plan and cantor the music for the Alumni Mass. (So everyone must think she’s Catholic!)

So you’ll find that remnant of “real” Catholics, probably quicker than my daughter did because you’ll know where to look.

 

[Morwenna]

Community college for two years then transfer is also an option, although it’s a last resort.

Don’t be too quick to condemn community colleges. I attended a CC for two years before moving on to a university, and in all honesty I have to say that the education I received at the CC was superior to that of the university (I can already hear the gasps of disbelief ).

On top of that, I graduated with FAR less debt than my friends who chose to head straight for the “big U.”

Of course, your local CC may be vastly different than mine, but please don’t be too quick to write it off. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you’ll find there (I certainly was!)

 

[newf]

Any possibility of using your talent for graphic design to run a business from your dorm room? And are you any good at networking on and off line to get customers?

One of my daughter’s friends, an engineering major at U of Illinois, started a web design business in 2001 from his DORM ROOM. After one year, he had grossed over $100,000 dollars. (It helped that his father is a business owner who was able to give his son lots of contacts.) He kept up the business through college. No debt for that guy! (He’s married, BTW, ladies–last summer!)

Graphic design is a good part-time type business. There are always clubs, organizations, businesses, etc. looking for a new logo or something to put on a sign or t-shirt or pamphlet. Could you do this?

ALSO, if you are doing a theology major, you will possibly want to go to the unorthodox school to TEST your brain and your heart. You’ll learn “liberal” theology from the inside out and you’ll learn what makes these fellers tick, and that would be a valuable parcel of knowledge to have as you try to teach and write about orthodox, conservative theology. As a theology major, it’s always good to go somewhere that challenges you and MAKES you defend your beliefs. You’ll be more knowledgeable than if you go to a school that teaches what you already believe.

Same for elem ed–a “liberal” school will teach you all the “liberal” theories of education, and you’ll be able to know how to deal with these people after you graduate and get a job because you’ll understand them.

You’ll just have to search for that little group (and it will be very little) of true Catholics who are faithful to orthodox teachings.

My daughter is a SLU student (St. Louis University–a Jesuit college not known for its orthodoxy). She’s not even Catholic, but she went there because of their excellent medical programs. She was pretty miserable for the first two years because there were so many hypocrites and non-practicing Catholics and pagans. She did meet several extremely Catholic professors, and absolutely LOVED them.

In her Junior year (by then, all the losers had flunked out), she started meeting the more serious Catholics, and in her Senior year, roomed with two very serious Catholics, including a theology major. It was great year for her; she was Matron of Honor at that roommate’s wedding (it happened two weeks after my daughter got married!) and sang “Panis Angelicus” and made the guests cry! Often these serious Catholics would drag her to Mass, which was great. She’s not Catholic yet, but she prefers attending a Catholic Mass to a Protestant worship service. And a few weekends ago, she was invited by the Head of her college to plan and cantor the music for the Alumni Mass. (So everyone must think she’s Catholic!)

So you’ll find that remnant of “real” Catholics, probably quicker than my daughter did because you’ll know where to look.

Loved your post, Cat.

Okay…first of all, how many kids make $100,000+ from their dorm room? Not many. This may be hard for most to achieve. I’d call it a long shot. And I’m bummed this guy is married, because of course, I have a daughter…

When it comes to graphic design, those people are usually good at their craft but not business…

I agree with you about going to an unorthodox Catholic school to test your theology, BUT, remember the student loan? How much $$ will a theology student make in the real world?? I’m thinking this will be a problem.

So, back to the op…I think it is a bad decision to be this much in debt to be a teacher or a theologian or a graphic designer.

Debt is not good. It means you owe. It doesn’t go away. You want to major in accounting or something where you can seriously make an above average living? Well, then go for it. But when you have the heart of an artist, debt is going to be a problem.

I have a daughter who is an artist. She will graduate this spring with an English and Creative Writing degree. Her poetry has been published… this does not pay. We love her and what she does. We will help her. Thankfully, she doesn’t have debt. She will graduate from a state school. And with this economy, she will try to find a job… She’s actually done well in the past…worked in NYC last summer, but that job has dried up with the ecomomy…so, we go onward…

Back to Cat…love how you say your daughter isn’t Catholic “yet”…I agree! Your girls sound awesome.

OP, stay out of debt as much as possible. And as ridgerunner above said…if you go there, use it for grad school…

And best wishes for you, OP, you sound like quite a special person.

 

[GFarmer]

Negotiate!

I have negotiated with private (Catholic) colleges for my daughter and had good results.

Lay it out for the financial aid office at your dream school that the other school has a much better package of scholarships for you. They might come around and up the ante.

Good luck!!

 

[ChristinaM]

Negotiate!

I have negotiated with private (Catholic) colleges for my daughter and had good results.

Lay it out for the financial aid office at your dream school that the other school has a much better package of scholarships for you. They might come around and up the ante.

Good luck!!

Definitely YES to this post! Everything is negotiable! Especially if your “dream school” is a smaller, Catholic school, they may be more willing to make accommodations for you.

I would be extremely wary about getting into tons of debt for a theology or education major. Teaching is a very noble profession but unfortunately our society has its priorities all wrong and teachers don’t get paid nearly enough. Yes, student loan debt is considered “good” debt, but it’s still debt. If you graduate and want to buy a house, for example, your loan-to-income ratio is considered when you go to apply for a mortgage. Too much student loan debt might mean you have to wait longer to own your own home.

I went to a state school and it was a good decision for me. I had a full ride with scholarships and graduated with no debt. I had a great group of Catholic students to hang out with, too. I actually had better fellowship with other Catholics there than I do at the Catholic school I’m attending for my graduate degree.

Pray that you will be able to make the decision that is right for YOU. God bless.

 

[raindr0ps]

Thanks for the advice, all!

I decided not to go to school #1, aka the one that’s giving me amazing aid. the campus seems pretty liberal and not that catholic, they have issues with their theology, and I’d rather just go to a community college.

but it looks like I won’t have to go to a community college!

I finally got my aid info for the college I want to go to. As of right now I have about $14,000 in grants and $8000 in loans, leaving about $3000-5000 left to be payed. I also applied for 2 $500-$2000 renewable scholarships from this school, and I have a pretty good chance of getting at least one of them. It looks like I’ll be graduating with around $40,000 in debt tops, although I’m hoping for more like $30,000

I’m still not 100% sure about my decision, though. 40k is still a lot. But I guess I have until May to decide.

 

[grandiosa]

Congrats, and hooray!

Don’t give up on other aid yet! My husband got a scholarship from the Deputy Sherriffs Association in our county cuz his dad was an officer. Look into your parents’ connections and see if they are members of any organizations that give scholarships to the children of members. Your ethnic background could help you too (unless you are white). There are many scholarships for people who are members of certain ethnic groups. Ask around your parish if anyone knows of scholarships or grants you might qualify for.