Also, I am in NHS (just got inducted tonight!!), Model UN (Why I like International Relations), and Student Council, so would there be scholarships available?

What I would REALLY appreciate is anyone who has been in this situation to give me advice, though any advice would be great!

Just gotta see where all the money is going to be coming from and make a decision.

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"Under the hardness of her facade a woman's heart is still beating."

is 3.895 unweighted? if that's the case, you should try like 2-3 reach schools too. (I don't know your test scores, but if they're 2100+ you got a legit shot)

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Take out loans...  
With the inflation outlook, it won't be a bad idea:P  
Anyways, with your GPA, it'll be a waste if you go to a state school. It'll be like you've worked for nothing, because people with 2.0s can go there.  

is 3.895 unweighted? if that's the case, you should try like 2-3 reach schools too. (I don't know your test scores, but if they're 2100+ you got a legit shot)

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What's the inflation about?  Is that where money is not "worth" as much right now, but will be worth more later?  What's a reach school?  Also, I haven't had a chance to take the ACT or SAT yet because of conflicts last year, but I am registered to take the ACT next month.

Also, how much CAN you take out in student loans?  How easy is it to find scholarships?  Do high schools provide scholarshps, and how much?

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Quote: from MrIndigo at 8:43 pm on Sep. 15, 2008

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Take out loans...
 With the inflation outlook, it won't be a bad idea:P
 Anyways, with your GPA, it'll be a waste if you go to a state school. It'll be like you've worked for nothing, because people with 2.0s can go there.

 is 3.895 unweighted? if that's the case, you should try like 2-3 reach schools too. (I don't know your test scores, but if they're 2100+ you got a legit shot)

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What's the inflation about? Is that where money is not "worth" as much right now, but will be worth more later? What's a reach school? Also, I haven't had a chance to take the ACT or SAT yet because of conflicts last year, but I am registered to take the ACT next month.

Also, how much CAN you take out in student loans? How easy is it to find scholarships? Do high schools provide scholarshps, and how much?

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Is it easy to find the money to pay for college, in scholarships and loans?  How much do people generally take out in loans for private colleges?

Well, make sure you get a fixed rate loan;)
Anyways, I'm just speculating that inflation would pick up soon.
Government is pumping money into the economy.
And oil prices won't stay that low for long.
The Fed interest rate is very low at 2%.

I think loans are slightly harder now with the credit crunch, but you should still be able to get student loans from major banks (such as BofA, Wells Fargo, etc.). Also, get the federal student loans first, then go to the banks.

My dad was telling me how when he was in college, he couldn't afford MIT (and he really couldn't because he was also in the country on a student visa, so he couldn't work).  And he says that he felt he missed out, and that he had no challenges.

Don't spend the rest of your life wondering what if, and regretting you final choice.  Talk to your parents about it again.

Now... on another note, don't count out FAFSA until you get it.  It might help you out... Do you also have other siblings, because that is something they also consider.  You can also get things like work study, and just do what you can to make it work.  Certain student loans don't have to be paid off until something like 6 months after you are no longer a full time student.

Look into it, call the school's you're interested in and ask them what you can do, apply to scholarships... work over the summer and build up the money for books and those kinds of things.  And overall, think about what you want from life.  I almost gave up going to my choice school because of cost... I ended up taking one year off between highschool and college to work and get some money to help pay for it... I'm happy I was still able to go.

So think about it.  What do you want, and what will make you happy?  Consider cost, because money can play a large role in happiness, even though it may not be the most important thing... and see where it takes you :).

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Those college fairs are great. Too bad they only give you 45 minutes. Our school had a whole night dedicated to college information.

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