College Advice. Please Help...

 Hey Guys
I'm a senior in highschool living in Connecticut. I will soon graduate, but the problem of a college has arisen. My major is journalism, and applied to three schools: Quinnipiac University, Northeastern and UConn. I got accepted to both Quinnipiac and Northeastern, but got wait listed from UConn. I loved both Quinnipiac and Northeastern and got scholarships for around fifteen thousand dollars from each. UConn was my primary school, the place that I hoped that I got into because it was affordable and a great school. My family just informed me that they cannot in good conscious let me got to either Quinnipiac or Northeastern as they are too expensive. I could rack up large amounts of loans exceeding well over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars--not including the ten years of interest that will accrue as I go through school and begin to pay them off--but my parents would have to cosign, which they have already said they won't. UConn's wait list is largely from a housing issue, and the possibility of me getting in from it is slim, at best. Instead they have offered to let me into one of their regional campuses, but I would have to commute and attend it for two years before I can go to the main campus. When I toured to regional campus I hated it and the idea of staying two more years at home scares me. I'm afraid I'm going to have no friends while I commute.
So, what should I do? Attending one of the other schools for a year and transferring out does not seem like an option, as I have no guarantee that I will get accepted, while racking up over forty thousand dollars of debt in a year alone. Also, if I do go to the regional campus, will I find friends? At the same time, how do I get an internship at a local newspaper or radio station on my own?

Thanks for help and sorry for the long windiness.

When working on my undergrad degree, I commuted and hated it.  After the hour and a half commute, I felt like a zombie during lectures.  My grades improved when I moved closer to the university.    Also, university isn't about making friends.  It's about getting good grades and getting out ASAP.  YMMV.

What town do you live in?

If your options are racking up an insane amount of debt, or suffering a bit for 4 semesters then transferring to the school you really want to attend, then going to the regional campus is a no-brainer. You'll graduate debt-free (or with less debt at least), and in the end your degree will still say UConn. Internships and such I wouldn't worry about since those are most likely to come after your 3rd year anyway.

It's funny how much your situation was like my own when it came time for me to pick a college. I don't know what "Regional Campus" refers to but I assume it's just a shitty version of the real campus. When I was going for student loans my parents couldn't cosign for a few reasons I won't reveal here. Anyway, I got into a really cheap state school, but unfortunately it seemed my performance in high school was below the standards of this illustrious institution so I was put into what they call "Transitions", or what I call "The fuck-up (You'll drop out) Program". Basically the program put me into classes that were picked by the administrators for the program. These classes counted towards my gen. ed requirements but I honestly could not give any less of a flying fuck about anything those professors were saying anyway, and the miserable commute (even though it's only like 20 minutes via subway) left me friendless and bitter. All the fuck-up's I was in class with were the last people I'd ever want to hang out with, and the only thing keeping me sane were the weekends my real friends would come home from real college.

People that say "Suck it up, commuting isn't that bad." are full of shit. Commuting does suck, especially when you have to keep your job and bust your ass on your off-days while your friends are all at real college getting really drunk and not having a care in the world. Honestly man, if I were you, I'd rack up all the debt and have a real college experience that you'll remember. Take it from someone whose been there, there is no lack of debt large enough to sacrifice some of the prime years of your youth for.

TL;DR: Commuting is a truly miserable existence and a decision that you will regret for the rest of your life.

" Also, university isn't about making friends.  It's about getting good grades and getting out ASAP.  YMMV. "

Community college is a good option. I wish I could have done my prereqs at my local community college and saved thousands. That being said, ask UConn if switching your major would help you get in faster. Once they accept you, you can always switch back after your first year. Just sign up for the classes your normally would as if you were a journalist (except the specialty classes of course). That is what my friend did and it worked perfectly for him.

Just because you commute, doesn't mean you won't make friends.  Just get involved in on campus activities/clubs and you will easily make friends.

As far as internships go, you do those through your school and that is usually during the senior year.  They act as a class and provide the same credit hours towards your degree.  Again, don't start to worry about that until your 3rd year.

" @teh_pwnzorer said:

" Also, university isn't about making friends.  It's about getting good grades and getting out ASAP.  YMMV. "

Don't listen to this guy. I say you go to the regional campus or a junior college for a year or two and then re-apply. If you keep your grades up then you can get in pretty much anywhere, and a junior college will be lighter on your wallet. As for friends, you'll make those anywhere. Just be as friendly as possible to everyone you meet, go to people's parties, and be loose. Try not to worry so much. "

Northeastern is on the E line and that's just gross.

Everybody chill the fuck out. I got this one. UConn (his primary school) has satellite, commuter-only campuses that he's automatically guaranteed admission to (because he got waitlisted). Now, they only do 2 years of classes in most cases, but if he has a 3.0 by the end of his first year or like a 2.5 by the end of his second year he can transfer over to the main campus and live on-campus.

" Community college is a good option. I wish I could have done my prereqs at my local community college and saved thousands. That being said, ask UConn if switching your major would help you get in faster. Once they accept you, you can always switch back after your first year. Just sign up for the classes your normally would as if you were a journalist (except the specialty classes of course). That is what my friend did and it worked perfectly for him. "

go to middlesex community college. it's where i go :P i'm about to graduate there. i don't know what i'm going to do after. going to community college is cheaper and most of the credits transfer to university colleges in connecticut.

i made some friends from school. they even live my town so i drive them every once in a while. just to tell you, it seems like the older people at college seem more down to earth than younger people with their drama.

One hundred anf fifty thousand????? Wow you Americans sure have it rough, that really sucks. You could always go to school in Canada. It's alot cheaper, and if you're going to live on campus anyway then why not. Come to UBC here in Vancouver we have a great Journalism program and an AMAZING location.

I'm a senior as well. So you have three options:

- go to your top school but have to commute everyday, then after two years (or 1) transfer to the main campus.

- get in debt and go to a school that isn't your top choice, then have stress once you graduate as you try to repay those huge loans.

- go to a community college, take an introductory Spanish class, and hope it turns out like that one TV show on NBC.

Pretty clear what you should do, IMHO.

I too am a senior in CT, I applied to Quinnipiac, UConn, SUNY New Paltz, and American. I chose New Paltz for a number of reasons, namely it being much much cheaper and having an environment that I can get behind. I also want to be a writer (though I'm not naive enough to major in Journalism) so we share that in common.

You'll find new friends in college, pretty much guaranteed. Everyone else has the same worries and you and, for the first couple weeks, everyone is super eager to meet new people and be friends.

It does decline after that, though, and pretty soon people go back to ignoring one another for the most part. But, for the first part, just make yourself available in high traffic areas and you'll do just fine.

Commuting sucks so don't do that.  It takes away a good chunk of the college experience.  The college experience isn't all about classes and grades, it's also about the parties, the new friends, trying out different things, and much more.  Unfortunately, you don't seem to have many options available.  I would try to talk to you parents again about the loans if it does not work then you're basically stuck with going to a regional campus or community college.

" Commuting sucks so don't do that.  It takes away a good chunk of the college experience.  The college experience isn't all about classes and grades, it's also about the parties, the new friends, trying out different things, and much more.  Unfortunately, you don't seem to have many options available.  I would try to talk to you parents again about the loans if it does not work then you're basically stuck with going to a regional campus or community college. "

If you really want to go to UConn, it sounds like you should go with the commuter option and then transfer.  The "college experience" is not worth accruing a huge amount of debt at a school you don't really want to go to.

Well UCONN won the national championship, so obviously that is the best choice.

I would help give you advice and all, but I'm suffering with my own college problems right now.