College choices..Please Help!!!

Okay I really need some help on this so if you read please respond.
I'm having to make a really hard decision on college. I had origanlly planned to start at a four year universty but I haven't recieved the amount of financial aid I thought I would. So I am seriously considering giving that idea up for now and going to the two year universty that is close to my home. If I go there I get all of my tution and fees payed for because I made a high enough ACT score that is as long as I keep a 3.0 GPA.
I feel torn..I could take out loans in order to go to my dream school..but then when I graduated I would be 34,000 in debt and spend a good amount of my adult life paying off the loans. If I go to this two year universty and do well the will give me a transfer scholarship to my dream school and it will pay for my last two years there..and it will pay for everything.

I know this seems like a no brainer question..but I really am torn in between the two...UCA is my dream school I have always wanted to go there..and I still can it will just be two years later. If I go to ASU I'm debt free..but I can't help but feel really crushed by going there. Please I am in extreme need of opinons and advice!!

Follow your heart. Be careful about the loans and how you spend the money, but if you feel that UCA is where you should be, then there may be a good reason for that.

Absolutely go to the local 2 year college! All the basic courses are the same, same, same no matter where you go, you will have to take the basics first.

It's also easier to go locally, and making good grades will be easier for a few reasons too, in a community college locally especially.

THEN once you have really good grades from the 2 years, you have a wider option of a University.

Even if you didn't have it all paid for, a local college is less expensive!

Don't be crushed, it's the wiser thing to do. You won't be having to worry about keeping up with the Joneses... those at the college will be having to keep up with you.

I can see why you are stressing about this, it's a huge decision. If it were me I would probably go to the two year first but I really don't like to be in debt. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
((((((((((( Silversparrow)))))))))))))

Are there no other local colleges or an accredited online school you could go to for a year or two?

Think up your real dream situation and work toward that.

If you want to be practical; only commit to the first year at ACU and tell yourself you're re-evaluate next Spring; it's possible to get scholarships, etc. even if you've only been a semester or two at the 2-year college level.

I'm leaning towards the two year at the moment..ASU is the closet school to home. The big deciding factor is if I can get stuff for Journalism at this school. They have criminal law so that is a plus. There are just so many factors..so many negatives and positives to each school.

I feel the mental state I am in now I may fair better at the two year..it wouldn't be a big hassle to find a thearpist on my insurance,I would be at home and when I get my apartment I would only be thrity minutes from home.

At the four year I would have many more opportunites.
I would be with my friends and they offer more courses and I could go ahead and start mixing my desired degree classes with my core classes.

Another worry I have is that I already have credit for two core classes..I am enrolled in a program through my high school..I wonder if that will hurt me when I go to the two year school. *SIGH* I have to make a decison by May 10 so I can get my full housing depoist back from the four year univesty. Who would have thought that my senior year at high school could be so stressful. 18 more days to graduation..I think I am going to puke.

Your earned credit won't hurt you at all to have those core course credits. That's great!

I would be surprised if any college allowed you to begin "mixing" degree classes with core during the first year, especially.

The problem with being with your friends is alot of them don't knuckle down and study, but have more fun than that.
There's so many things that are new when attending college, that it's good to be home during them. When you get to University later on, you'll be ready for it and will more likely be quite successful. No sense in learning things about you and how things go in college by paying more than you have to (and if something's "free" these days, take it!)



Yes, senior years are very stressful. Are you carrying a barf bag? TC

If you go to a two year college, you are almost guaranteed of getting into your choice of colleges. Statistically, about 50% of students at four year colleges drop out by their junior year.

Plus you'll be way ahead financially.

ANother perspective on the issue

True you will graduate with student loan debt if you goto your dream school but ..... who cares?

Student loan debt is considered "good debt" and the majority of people who went to college have some. The interest rates are low, most less than 3%.

ANother thing, while the "core courses" might be the same in name, the material you would learn might be VERY different. 4-year universities have better faculty and more resources than community colleges. Additionally, the students at a community college might be very different than those attending your dream school. For example, many may be part-time students or older students, or ??? and they might change the dynamics of the class.

Can you get a part-time job while at dream school? Also, contact the financial aid office and complain. Ask for more.

I do believe you can get a good education, anywhere..... but if you have the opportunity to attend the "best" ....why not.

And for further note, sometimes graduate schools and professional schools do take note of someone coming from a community college versus being in a 4-year university....in admissions decisions. It does not happen all the time, but I have seen it mentioned in several instances.