abandon ship?

[seXieleXie]

*sigh*
cornell has just announced an increase in tuition. they're also increasing the student activity fee. oh and they're going to start charging a monthly fee for internet access that is twice the current fee. oh and housing will be more expensive. dining too.

my mind boggles at the thought of paying even more than the about $32,000.00 i'm paying now. i'm already going to be in over my head in debt. i'm already having to come up with the amount of money my parents are expected to contribute for me (long long story) on top of my own contribution. almost all of my savings have gone into this year.

i was already planning to work two jobs during the summer. i knew i would probably have to take out an additional loan too. but now everything is getting more expensive, jobs and wages aren't as plentyful, and my whole plan has been shot to hell.

so i ask myself... what am i doing here? why aren't i attending a cheaper school? should i take a year off to work? should i transfer? *sigh* i don't know.

anyone have any thoughts or advice or anything else to offer?

 

[lavender]

 

[MissTaken]

Oh, Lexie,

So sorry to hear that. College is really expensive especially if you go to a reputable, private school.

You already seem to know what your options are, bright girl. Now, it is for you to take them apart and decide which will be best for you.

Take care and hugs,
Miss T

 

[alexandraaah]

If ya want to stay at Cornell, you'll find a way to do it, though it might not be comfortable. Not the most sage advice, perhaps cliche, but I suppose it's that for a reason. Good luck and I know what you're going through. It makes me wanna...........

*grrrrrrrr*

 

[seXieleXie]

right now i have a double major in biology and psychology. i'm pre-med.

maybe i'll start a fat girl porn site and sell naked pictures of me

 

[lavender]

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

You could always go to the UW instead; they have a very good med program and I have this huge area of my bed that is vacant!

 

[seXieleXie]

lol. but aren't you moving to california dear?

lavy: maybe you could talk to your boss about me getting a job at 1-900-sex-meup

 

[fallon2]

suggestions

1) Check and see if they have a Work/Study program. Many times you can work around your schedule for some campus office or organization.
2) Check with your professors; especially the ones who know you and ask them for their suggestions . . . you might be surprised at what they tell you.
3) Talk to your friends and see if they are in the same boat and maybe you can help each other listening to each other.
4) Contact, as a last resort, favored grandparents, uncles any relative that might be willing to lend you some money.
5) GOOD LUCK!

 

[cymbidia]

Lexie? You're a CA native. What's wrong with the UC system?

Are you nuts, girl?

UCSanDiego is one of the top pre-med schools in the country, and UCDavis isn't any kinda med-school-preparedness slouch either. There are a big variety of very good universities from which to choose in our state. While i certainly am not denigrating the Ivies, darlin', unless one has an unlimited pool of cash into which one may dip for the staggering expenses such schools entail, one might do well to look for a comparably good education a little closer to home.

JMO, and i don't know all your details, of course. Please forgive me if i've stepped where i should not. My advice is meant kindly, as you must know.

 

[Shy Tall Guy]

lol. but aren't you moving to california dear?

I would stick around here for you.

http://www.washington.edu/students/sfs/sao/tuition/

http://www.washington.edu/medical/som/

http://www.washington.edu/home/departments/departments.html

 

[seXieleXie]

Lexie? You're a CA native. What's wrong with the UC system?

Are you nuts, girl?

UCSanDiego is one of the top pre-med schools in the country, and UCDavis isn't any kinda med-school-preparedness slouch either. There are a big variety of very good universities from which to choose in our state. While i certainly am not denigrating the Ivies, darlin', unless one has an unlimited pool of cash into which one may dip for the staggering expenses such schools entail, one might do well to look for a comparably good education a little closer to home.

JMO, and i don't know all your details, of course. Please forgive me if i've stepped where i should not. My advice is meant kindly, as you must know.

i wanted to get out of california. i wanted somewhere different. i needed a new perspective. anywhere close enough to go home for the weekend was too close. i felt like the only way i could break out of the crap that was holding me down when i was at home was to run as far away as i could.

my parents told me that i wouldn't make it out here. it seems such a shame to prove them wrong. pride is insanely hard to swallow, especially at those times when you can already hear the "i-told-you-so"s

cornell gave me a great financial aid package. the grant i have here is more than an entire year at UCLA.

 

[alexandraaah]

i wanted to get out of california. i wanted somewhere different. i needed a new perspective. anywhere close enough to go home for the weekend was too close. i felt like the only way i could break out of the crap that was holding me down when i was at home was to run as far away as i could.

my parents told me that i wouldn't make it out here. it seems such a shame to prove them wrong. pride is insanely hard to swallow, especially at those times when you can already hear the "i-told-you-so"s

cornell gave me a great financial aid package. the grant i have here is more than an entire year at UCLA.

sounds like you've answered your question about abandoning ship, no?

 

[Guest]

Most universities give really good room and board breaks to RAs. Since you'll be a sophomore next year, it might be something you should check out for Fall 2002/Spring 2003. You'll have to attend training sessions and such, but it probably won't be that difficult once you get started. Also, you'll be able to keep a regular job along with being an RA.

 

[ksmybuttons]

Go for it!

You are bright. I am sure you have sat down and calculated what your loans will be against your future earnings.

The main thing is to finish. The numbers sound huge now, but in the scheme of things really aren't that big if you finish. The debt is huge if you don't.

 

[Guest]

Hey, sexy!

ksmybuttons is right. Actually, all of these replies have good points. I'm in the field, let me know if you need help getting work after you graduate....

 

[ExLimey]

I'm not sure what year you're in and/or what courses you're taking (General Ed or specific to your major). Here are a couple of thoughts:

Taking any time off may make it real difficult to go back. There is no way I could have taken a year off.

I went to junior college right out of high school because it was cheaper (early 90s, I think for six semesters at jr col I paid about $300 TOTAL and I had a degree after two years {AA}) I was then able to transfer all the credits to Cal State system as a junior. If you're not too far along, this could be an cheaper option.

 

[ksmybuttons]

Depending on what you want to do, an undergraduate degree from a prestigious college is important. If your goal is to stay in acedemia, then where you go to college becomes very important. For most things, where isn't as important as what you do once you are out.

 

[april-wine]

right now i have a double major in biology and psychology. i'm pre-med.

maybe i'll start a fat girl porn site and sell naked pictures of me

First in line.........


As for advice.....I think you should come Canada...lol

We have some damn fine schools here, and a fabulous University right here in my hometown, hmmmmmm I could use a roomie lol............

 

[rexfelis]

Um...

maybe i'll start a fat girl porn site and sell naked pictures of me

I'm presuming you were kidding, but in case you weren't, there's something about starting your own porn site you should know.

There's not enough money to be made doing that to make it worth your while anymore, no matter what you look like, or what you do in your pics.

Now then phone sex operator is another thing entirely.

I don't know the specifics, but it sounds to me like your chosen profession will make it fairly easy to repay any loans.

These ridiculous prices have me scared shitless for the next phase of my collegiate journey...

 

[RhumbRunner13]

Abandon ship?

I, and most of my classmates at American Airlines went to state or small community colleges. They are now earning in the $200,000 to $300,000/year bracket. The "quality" of their education was never a factor, other than the ability to fly.
What ability does Cornell give you that Bumfuck CC does not?
When you walk in for an interview, the recruiter will be looking at you, not your degree!! Hope it helps.

RhumbRunner

 

[Mischka]

• Go to your financial aid office tomorrow. No excuses. Talk to an aid officer about exactly how much you will be paying per month - pre-tax - after four years at Cornell. I have a friend who went there for law school, and he now has to fork over close to a grand a month for the next decade to repay his tuition. It severely limited his options for employment (had to go Big Firm instead of Public Defender).
• If you decide on changing schools, you have not failed or proven your parents correct in their prediction. You are making it out there. A financial crisis is not indicative of your ability to cope with a different environment.
• California is a very looong state. I don't know where your parents are located, but the state is chock full o' great schools. Many of them reasonably distanced from the folks.
• If you are considering medical school after undergrad, you seriously need to factor that into your long term debt calculation. Do a cost/benefit analysis. Is the price you are paying for your undergraduate education adding comparable worth to your overall education?
• Again, assuming you are med school bound, contact the med schools you are considering. Ask them which undergrad institutions they look at, and if transferring between institutions for financial reasons would adversely affect your application.

I really hope you are financially able to stay at Cornell, but someone as bright and capable as you has a million options ahead of her. I am completely confident that you will come out of this unscathed.

 

[ksmybuttons]

Re: Abandon ship?

I, and most of my classmates at American Airlines went to state or small community colleges. They are now earning in the $200,000 to $300,000/year bracket. The "quality" of their education was never a factor, other than the ability to fly.
What ability does Cornell give you that Bumfuck CC does not?
When you walk in for an interview, the recruiter will be looking at you, not your degree!! Hope it helps.

RhumbRunner

If you have a skill, like flying, no it doesn't matter where you get your degree. They are not hiring you for your degree.

If you want an MD and want to just practice medicine, no it doesn't make alot of difference where you get your degree.

If you want to do research, cutting edge, teach, lecture etc, it DOES make a big difference on where you go to school.

Someone close to me went to prestigious private undergrad and medical school with almost a free ride. Ended up owing $70,000 at the end. All paid off after 3 years.

One of the big advantages is that you learn to to live fairly frugally after 10 years of school. You also get very, very tired of it.

 

[kotori]

Re: Abandon ship?

Have you thought about taking in laundry?

Okay, just kidding!

But your nautical analogy got me thinking. I know a fellow at the med school here who joined the Navy--it wasn't quite ROTC (since it was for his graduate school). He did deployments during the summers, etc., and after he graduated, did his residency with the Navy (look, ma, no matching!) as a full Lieutenant. Full, not jg. Uncle Sam paid for the whole ride at med school (I'm pretty sure), and so he only had undergrad to pay off.

 

[LadyDarkFire]

LeXie, I know where you are coming from on the wanting to get out of California. I wanted to too, until I noticed the cost margins, and decided to go to a Junior College instead. One thing you might want to try is seeing if you can go to a junior college for your general credits. Most community colleges have transferable credits even out of state. Check out what your options are for using that financial package for other work, and where your credits would be transferable from. If you took a year or two off to work and go to community college, would you be able to come back and finish up your undergraduate work at Cornell? The option would allow you to save up money, and would allow you to not pay the exorbinent fees. Good Luck!