Wow, colleges suck.

[Reality's Fringe]

Well, I'm supposed to be going to Athens this fall for college at Ohio University, adn I just got a bill for my Fall Quarter: $3,327. Wow, I DON'T have that kind of cash on me. I was wondering what avenue any of you (College grad/students) took to pay for it all. What are the best loans you can reccomend to me? God, does it get any cheaper after my very first quarter? Help!

[Blues]

I have the unsubsidized Stafford loan, apply for student loans asap before all the money dries up! And yes, registration and student loan applications are a pain in the ass.

[ElfAngel7]

I hook on I95 from wednesday to sunday

[suprsaiyanMAX]

Haha...afraid to tell you that it usually gets more expensive. i'm making it on a small leadership scholarship award and loans. Student loans are available lots of places, typically governement loans have a lower interest rates, but not always. Aplly for FAFSA if you haven't already it's a good start. Also, call the college's student finicical Aid office, most have one, they can help you out in much better detail.

[Rodimus]

If you get loans you can pay later, then if you find out you can't even pay after that you can request a forbarance, which can delay your loans up for a year. That's what I'm currently doing.

The bad thing here is that you have to find a good job after, or during school so you have the cash to pay for it.

[Aryss]

It doesnt' get cheaper but all of my school loans are locked in at 4% for their lifetime since rates are so low. Just do some research and work with the school financial officers to help you get government loans. With the way things are right now you can get some good rates and payment plans for after you graduate. If you get the right loans, you can defer them until after you graduate and still have the low rates. Go after grants since they usually don't have to be repaid.

[Tromack]

I would kill for that kind of tuition. My school sets me back about 17 grand a semester.

[suprsaiyanMAX]

Schlorships too, aplly for as many free ones as possible. Even if you don't meet the exact requirments sometimes they'll like you asa canidate. Not all of them are based on athletics and academics either.

[organicow]

In Georgia we have the HOPE scholarship that is funded by the lottery, and I have a Stafford loan as well. Hell, without HOPE, I'd be screwed!

Also, once you get settled in at school, start looking for a part-time school position like a student assistantship (help out a prof), or with the school's radio station, newspaper, tv channel, etc. I got a job with my school's newspaper that pays me $300 a month (and I only have to work for 7 hrs each sunday), and - best of all - my own little office. Getting anything like the above-mentioned positions will really look nice on your transcript/resume as well.

Good Luck!!!

[Tromack]

If you got good SAT's the Byrd scholarship is probably the easiest scholarship to get. You just send them your scores and they give you money. And don't expect it to go down. Most places increase tuition by inflation + a little bit extra. Oh and a lot of schools have a work study program.

[snotknocker]

Well, I'm supposed to be going to Athens this fall for college at Ohio University, adn I just got a bill for my Fall Quarter: $3,327. Wow, I DON'T have that kind of cash on me. I was wondering what avenue any of you (College grad/students) took to pay for it all. What are the best loans you can reccomend to me? God, does it get any cheaper after my very first quarter? Help!

Seriously, If you deal well with nastiness, I would suggest tricking yourself out to some old wealthy widow. Just take out an ad in the personnals something to this effect

young eager college student seeks much older wealthy mature woman for fun.

I know it's illegal and I know it's immoral....but it will pay for your tuition and then some. You'll even have some extra cash for cheap ass games and partying ( Be careful don't go overboard.... we know how you can get when you drink too much. )

You can thank me later if you decide to do this.

[6669]

How many classes did you register for? Are you taking lots of labs? Did you check to see if everything is filled out correctly, like residency? Definately try financial aid/student loans. Unless your parents make a lot of money, you should get accepted. Don't wait to do it though, fill out the applications and turn them in ASAP.

[Reality's Fringe]

I'm ass borke, and so are my parents. My major is not lab intensive, so that doesn't realy aply. There's this "General Fee" that is $500, and no one can tell me what it's for, and that's starting to piss me off. I signed up for Work/Study, got a couple of grants and a Fed Dir Subsidized loan. The balance I stated above is what I still owe. Are there anymore govt loans I could get? Like, A Stafford loan or something? And Snotknocker....I've considered that option....oh, have I...

[scdoanintendo]

I don't know if you have a job, but there are a lot of places (ups, harrah's casino, fed ex, etc) that offer tuition help if not pay it all if you have good grades. Also fasa is the best way to, my 1st year of being a freshman my mother and I split the bill and I was basically working to go to school ironically. This 2nd year I learned and applied for financial via fasa and got my 1st semester payed for which was roughly 3,300.

[b3b0p]

This is in state tuition? Most colleges have huge difference in price between in state and out of state. If you are out of state look in to getting your own apartment for 12 months. After the 12 months you can usually declare residency and get in state tuition. May vary by state and college though.

Anyway, I only pay about $1200 in state at Oklahoma State University a semester. I think it is like $9,000 a semester if you are out of state. Well actually my dad pays it (he does not want me to have dept and worry about paying it. he just wants me to graduate and make decent grades).

Chris

[Machine]

1) Apply for all the scholarships, grants, etc. that you can. 2) Get an easy part-time job: libraries or computer labs are great places to work. 3) Living off campus is generally much cheaper than living in dorms unless you are a resident advisor.

BTW - the Halloween party in Athens is great.

[6669]

I'm ass borke, and so are my parents. My major is not lab intensive, so that doesn't realy aply. There's this "General Fee" that is $500, and no one can tell me what it's for, and that's starting to piss me off. I signed up for Work/Study, got a couple of grants and a Fed Dir Subsidized loan. The balance I stated above is what I still owe. Are there anymore govt loans I could get? Like, A Stafford loan or something? And Snotknocker....I've considered that option....oh, have I...

Well, my b/f's taking 16 credit hours in the fall, and 2 of those 6 classes are labs. His tuition is a little less than yours.

[scdoanintendo]

Wow 6 classes and just 16 credit hours, is he taking some that don't give credit, but are requirements.

[Missingdata]

...oh yea.. u remind me to pay my university fee, if i dont' they will drop my class....

anyway I've pay about half of it...., just $800 to go... ahhh n i have until wednesday to pay them all...

[lionheart4life]

Hey man I hear ya about college being expensive. I had to pay about the same as you last year. Maybe a couple hundred less. Hopefully you did the FAFSA already, since that's where you're gonna get your "free money" or grants from the government, if you and your fam are broke enough, like me. Subsidized Stafford Loan is a good option, since interest will not build up while you're in school, plus it buys you a lot of time to come up with money to repay it, and allows you to go to school even when you don't have the cash to pay the bill. Don't panic, just talk to the Fin Aid office at your school to work out the best solution for you, fill out the right paperwork, and save copies of any promissory things you sign for loans. $3000 or whatever you are paying might seem like a ton now, and I thought so too at the time, but most people pay a ton more or in a much larget debt. Sure some people get a free ride or their parents can afford to pay the bill (lucky bastards), but some people also have $20,000 a year loans. It's not gonna get any cheaper either, unless you win some kind of new scholarship for next year. I know I'm paying about $1500 more to go into my sophomore year than I did last year as a freshman.

About your "general fee" schools like to do stuff like that, as well as charging you key and damage deposits, etc. The fee most likely covers activities for you as a freshman, or for your dorm, or could include the deposits I mentioned, or a fee for your internet access, etc. You'll probably never find out exactly what its for. If I could give you any advice, it would be to work a lot this summer if you can, because you'll probably have even more expenses such as books that you'll have to pay for. Trust me they will rape you on textbooks, even if you shop online its still gonna be pretty expensive, and you won't get all the money back reselling them later.

[Grave_Addiction]

You could always enlist into the Air Force for four years and get your college paid for absolutely free.

The AF pays 100% tuition, you can get the MGI bill and go back to school after you leave the military and it pays for that, too.

All you have to pay is for books. You'll also get a decent paying job with great benefits. IMO, it's a great way to go for kids coming out of high school.

Heck, you'll be in college for the next four years anyway. Why not spend that time getting some money, getting your college paid for free, then go out into the world with a degree, cash and a usable skill to put to use in the civilian sector?

[Reality's Fringe]

I tought about joining the AF, but I'm not sure. I met with a recruiter...but...eh. I'd rather hear the truth from someone who's in the aF. What can you tell me about it?

[6669]

Wow 6 classes and just 16 credit hours, is he taking some that don't give credit, but are requirements.

No, there's 5 3 credit hour courses, and 1 lab that only counts as 1 credit hour (even though the class is 3.5 hours long). 15+1=16 credit hours = about 25 hours at school a week= less time I'll be able to sit here in front of his computer and talk to you guys :(

[Zenithian Legend]

Well, I'm supposed to be going to Athens this fall for college at Ohio University, adn I just got a bill for my Fall Quarter: $3,327. Wow, I DON'T have that kind of cash on me. I was wondering what avenue any of you (College grad/students) took to pay for it all. What are the best loans you can reccomend to me? God, does it get any cheaper after my very first quarter? Help!

First, you made a huge mistake, you should've gone to UT, University of Mr. T that is. Second, it doesn't ever get cheaper, in fact it generally gets more expensive. Third, make sure you get that fafsa, that helps a lot, pell grants are your friend. Finally, get out of the dorms (if that's what you're in) ASAP, apt rent is far cheaper, at least in my case.

[Reality's Fringe]

I am required to live on campus for the first year(and I can't take a car), otherwise, trust me, I wouldn't be in a dorm room.

[suprsaiyanMAX]

That's about the norm at big state schools anymore I believe. There are some loopholes to get around it, but really living in a dorm isnt that bad. Here it is about the same cost as a 1 bde room apt., but in the end you meet so many more people in the dorms and it can be a lot of fun. I suggest everyone live in a dorm for at least a semester, you may like it or hate it depnding on the enviroment and people, but without you truly don't experience of all college I dont think.

[Admiral Ackbar]

Should have gone to FSU. One of the cheapest ass public universities in the country. About $70-$80 bucks a credit a semester. Classes would have cost $1200 for the semester.

[Querjek]

I am required to live on campus for the first year(and I can't take a car), otherwise, trust me, I wouldn't be in a dorm room.
AHAHAHA. You poor sap. I am a sophmore at Athens High School and I already know one school I'm not going to go to. Yeah, they require you to live in their crappy dorms for freshman year (Trust me, I've been in them before for sibs weekend with my sister who graduated a few years ago from there).

[Xevious]

College is great for meeting women and having a social life. Once you leave college, there is a strong chance the well will run dry.

[captainfrizo]

College is certainly not cheap. My school charges about $6,000 a semester. Thankfully I have a good amount of scholarships to pay for most of the cost. The rest is paid for by a loan.

[The Cheapest Ass Gamer]

3 easy, quick things you can do to help pay your tuition:

1) Apply for federal and state aid. Fill out the FAFSA and ask the college what else is required to get as much public funding as possible. Federal grants and subsudized Stafford loans are a lifesaver...unsubsidized Staffords can get in the way sometimes, so only take if necessary. I get about a third of my tuition through public funding.

2) Apply for college-offered academic scholarships. It's worth a shot. I'm getting half of my college paid for through academic scholarships that my college offers to the students with a good academic record.

3) Get a job on-campus. I work at my college's library and bookstore and got about $1,000 per semester. Other good places to inquire about are the IT department, the switchboard, and anyplace else where you see students working. (Tour guides are frequently needed at my college to show prospective students around the place).

Through all three of these, you can probably get pretty close to getting all your tuition paid for (maybe not all including housing).

[beerguy961]

My parents are paying for my college (that and whatever bond type thing my grandfather got for me.

To keep college cheap, I would recommend staying in state and maybe getting a job near the school to help pay for stuff.

[Reality's Fringe]

I'm going to give the school a call here today or tommorow to get some help. One of the problems is that if youdo not have a residence assignment, they automatically bill you for a single dorm room. The problem is, I signed up for a double and I don't get a hall assignment until orientation (which is August 13th), but payment is due August the 2nd. I mean, seriously, what kind of shit is that? MY parents are freaking out too, because we don't have a lot of money (We're at that brackert where we make just enough to get by so the government doesn't want to offer us help,but we don't make enough to really afford anything besides the essentials), so as it stands, I don't know if I'm going now. Hopefully I can figure something out.

[carlagyrl]

My first two years I had a full scholarship. Then I messed up. After that it was government loans all the way. Also I would recommend applying for other scholarships as well. You don't have to be a straight A student in order to get some of these loans. And also don't live on campus it's just a waste of money unless you can afford it.

[Zenithian Legend]

I am required to live on campus for the first year(and I can't take a car), otherwise, trust me, I wouldn't be in a dorm room.

Well now, the dorms aren't all that bad. You need a year in the dorms IMO, that's how I met the majority of my "college" friends.

[erehwon]

You might want to try fastweb.com (http://fastweb.monster.com/). It's a pretty good scholarship site.

[dtcarson]

I don't know about not allowing freshmen a car, but I definitely agree with living in the dorm at least a year or two. I had an advantage though, my roommate throughout college [except for the first week] was my best friend from high school. [The first week I was with some guy whose idea of fun was going out, getting drunk, riding back with a bunch of people in the back of the truck, and randomly jumping out and beating people up.]
But the social aspect of a dorm, especially a coed dorm [mine was coed by floor], is very important for the 'college experience' [and I don't even mean the 'getting drunk every night' experience.]

Apply for as many scholarships/grants as you can, maybe speak to a counselor at your HS for assistance narrowing down loan options, etc.

I'm in the reverse situation--my little boy is 21 months old, and by the time he goes to school, they say it'll cost like 164,000/year. We have virtually nothing in assets, so I have been researching 529s or Coverdells, but haven't made a decision yet. Plus, they say to fund your own retirement first, which I'm not doing fully....It doesn't get any easier, sad to say.