Big, Huge, Colossal Problem.

[teaahnuh]

Well, I have a problem.

I know that I don't regularly post on AP net, but I really didn't know where else to go and need some solid advice. I know theres an Education section but I doubt anyone goes there, and need advice right now about college.

I was accepted a while ago to Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. I always liked both, but decided ultimately that I wanted to go to Parsons in the end. Now I have to worry about how I'm going to pay for it. Heres the thing, Parsons costs about 57,000 a year and they gave me about 32,000 in Financial Aid and scholarships. I always knew that I would be taking out student loans, but with this I really have no idea how I would pay this. I live with a single parent, and have no college fund or anything. It would just be a stressful situation to always have to worry about money, and would be in huge debt in the end.

Now, I think my mom is trying to change my mind and convince me to go to FIT, thought it is really my decision in the end. FIT is a CUNY school, and it really only costs about 2000 a year not including room and board. I got into their Presidential Scholars Program so thats a plus, but I feel like I wont have enough room in their program to try different things. You start right into your major, and unlike Parsons don't get to try everything before you commit.

I really have no idea what to do, and I hope I explained this clear enough. Ive never had to make such a decision before that would change everything in my life. I dont want to have any regrets. Parsons is a much better school than FIT, and I dont want to be forced to go to FIT because of money. But then again, I dont want to be strangled by student loans for the rest of my life. Its just such a difficult situation that I dont know what to do. I really need some good advice. Should I go to Parsons, have lots of opportunities and be weighed by debt, or should I go to FIT and be somewhat debt free? Please help, I really dont know what I should do.

[berd]

I see only 2 logical answers:

1. Suck dick for cash

Or

2. Sell coke to struggling models

Then you can go where you want!

[sodamnclever]

You should just go to the school you think you will get the most out of. If you want to go to Parsons, find loans that can apply to you then pay them off in the future. Don't pick to go to FIT though just because it is financially cheaper. The decision is yours, see which school you can see yourself having a better fit at, don't let money affect your decision.

[ayerock]

Do a degree that will actually help you make money

[the seventeenth]

...catch a tiger by the toe / if he hollers let him go / I pick the very best one which is? Try that.

[TROKyle]

Don't go into Fashion.

[spunkmastaflex]

go to the expensive school

then find a nice boy to marry and get you out of debt

/thread

[Yontsey]

I'll give you a couple pieces of advice from someone who's transferred to a couple different schools and has graduated, ect ect.

1. Do what's going to make you happy. If you don't you will regret it, money or not. You will always look back and say "what if?".

2. $32k is a good chunk for student aid and schollys. Great start and congrats on getting those. I assume you mean that is money that you will not have to pay back? If you went to Parsons, and it's $7k/year, does that include room and board or is that just tuition? If it's just tuition, figure on needing probably $12k/year. So then you would have to take out $16k for student loans. Mind you, you don't have to pay that back until usually about 6 months after you stop taking classes.

3. To reiterate #1, if you're the one paying it back in the end, be polite to your mother, but you don't necessarily have to listen to her. She is not living your life. You are the one that will live it and have to go through whatever you choose. If you have a great opportunity, TAKE IT!

Good luck.

[Yellowcard2006]

Go to a public university and don't waste money so ridiculously.


Also Parsons costs about 57,000 a year WTF? For fashion? ~$240,000 for college. Oh mah lawd.

[.invisible ink.]

FIT is a damn good school. It's all about your talent in the end, not where the degree comes from, especially in the case of fashion design. Plus, if you can get out with little to no student debt, you're in a *way* better position than someone who has that weighing on them for years to come. Seriously, nobody looks down at FIT, especially if you have the talent to back it up. Ultimately, you're going to do what you want to do. I'm not sure what strangers opinions on the subject are really going to do to change your mind. Good luck with whatever you choose, both schools are great.

[spansen]

you already know the answer, you're just looking for reassurance. go to parson's. if it's as good a program as you think it is, you'll make it all back inside of a decade.. you'd have to budget paying it back, though, and quickly- so interest doesn't put you in the sleeper hold.

[Scrandon]

Go to the better school or you'll regret it in the end. Don't worry about taking on debt it's a normal part of life, you will most likely be in debt for the rest of your adult life, everyone does it and everyone makes it out alright.

[Yontsey]

Holy shit! I misread and thought you said Parsons was $7k/yr, not $57k/yr. Fuck that shit. Forget what I said.

[Smash Adams]

Remember other people in your position, not knowing how to pay for college, don't even have scholarships

[spiffa0]

According to a quick google search, Parsons costs more than Harvard. Absolutely absurd.

[Dorian Grey]

Parsons is a damn good school. If you got in then you obviously have the talent to make back all that money.

[zachff]

After graduating college with $20K in debt, I say go where it's cheaper. It's all about internships/experiences anyway in your field.

[terror_91]

My university will cost like $15k a year and it's at one of the top universities in the country.FYL.

[zachff]

Parsons is a damn good school. If you got in then you obviously have the talent to make back all that money.
False, but great username.

[spansen]

My university will cost like $15k a year and it's at one of the top universities in the country.FYL.

cool. you live in a different country.

[Hagysaurus Rex]

Do a degree that will actually help you make money

Or you know, you could do what makes you happy. That might work.

[terror_91]

cool. you live in a different country.
Pretty much my point, thanks for spelling it out for everyone.

[shermanology]

Go to the better school or you'll regret it in the end. Don't worry about taking on debt it's a normal part of life, you will most likely be in debt for the rest of your adult life, everyone does it and everyone makes it out alright.

And this is why our country is in a financial crisis.

[Hagysaurus Rex]

Don't worry about taking on debt. Also, which school/program better suits you? Which is a better fit with you personally and your goals? I guarantee you'll get more out of the experience if you choose the one that is better tailored to you and what you want to do (programs, internships, etc.)

Either way, I don't envy your situation! Best of luck!

[Memphis]

http://knowyourmeme.com/i/1124/original/do_a_barrel_roll_really.jpg

[.invisible ink.]

And this is why our country is in a financial crisis.

thank you. i am shaking my head at all the bad advice in this thread given by people who have never had to deal with real debt in their lives. Seriously, debt SUCKS. If there is no great reason to get into it (and generally there's not), then I highly suggest you don't do it. It will change your life's path. For example, instead of taking that great internship that will propel your career far, you will take the shitty paying job that has no real long term career benefits just to make ends meet so you can keep up with the creditors. You will end up fucking yourself over with the choices you make in your life because you have DEBT weighing on your shoulders at all times. Just because you go to an expensive school DOES NOT MEAN you will get a better paying job than the person who went to the cheap school. Think long term here, it's hard but you will not "always regret" not going to the more expensive school. You WILL always regret the fact that you can't get the money that you wasted back. Think about it.

[argg_xo]

I don't understand why you wouldn't want to go to FIT and try everything they have to offer at such a less expensive price? What if you started out with something at Parsons and found out that you hated it, it doesn't sound like you could switch easily and why would you waste money doing it?

[ayerock]

Or you know, you could do what makes you happy. That might work.

She won't be happy when she's got a mountain of student debt

[bung]

Thought this thread was going to be about how you suddenly sprouted a dick or something.

/leaving disappointed

[TotalCollapse]

Definitely go to FIT. Let's say you have $75k in student loans. You'd be paying at least $900 a month for 10 years. When you get out of college, it is highly possible that you will not be able to find a job besides working a minimum wage job in retail or something. Say you take home $1500 a month and you've got to pay the $900, it's going to be extremely difficult to pay for everything else you need. It'd be a different story if you were planning on majoring in engineering or something where it's very likely that you will have a job out of college and be making $70k a year and paying off the student loans wouldn't be as much as a hassle. But since you're planning on majoring in something fashion/art/graphic design (?) related, the likelihood of getting a well-paying job right out of college is slim.

[sdbrown]

you already know the answer, you're just looking for reassurance. go to parson's. if it's as good a program as you think it is, you'll make it all back inside of a decade.. you'd have to budget paying it back, though, and quickly- so interest doesn't put you in the sleeper hold.
hahahaha. they'll make back 100K in a decade? Yeah, if they don't spend their money on ANYTHING except paying back the loan.

thank you. i am shaking my head at all the bad advice in this thread given by people who have never had to deal with real debt in their lives. Seriously, debt SUCKS. If there is no great reason to get into it (and generally there's not), then I highly suggest you don't do it. It will change your life's path. For example, instead of taking that great internship that will propel your career far, you will take the shitty paying job that has no real long term career benefits just to make ends meet so you can keep up with the creditors. You will end up fucking yourself over with the choices you make in your life because you have DEBT weighing on your shoulders at all times. Just because you go to an expensive school DOES NOT MEAN you will get a better paying job than the person who went to the cheap school. Think long term here, it's hard but you will not "always regret" not going to the more expensive school. You WILL always regret the fact that you can't get the money that you wasted back. Think about it.
Wait, what is this, sense in a PL thread? get outta here!

dude, go to FIT.

[wavegoodbye]

Remember other people in your position, not knowing how to pay for college, don't even have scholarships

this.
this is the reason i am currently not going to school. i find it completely asinine to pay assloads of money to get an education that does not even guarantee you a higher paying job. i see people ALL the time who've graduated college and still are only working shit jobs. and they of course have all those loans to pay off.. it's ridiculous.
i WANT to go back to school, but right now is not the time. :/

[Big_Guy]

57,000 a year?


not worth it at all

[Hagysaurus Rex]

She won't be happy when she's got a mountain of student debt

Personal debt to income ratio =/= happiness.

....well maybe it does to some, but not to me, and I don't know if it does to OP or not.

[spansen]

hahahaha. they'll make back 100K in a decade? Yeah, if they don't spend their money on ANYTHING except paying back the loan.
yes. they would. as long as she's not working full time at mcdonald's, odds are good she's going to be making 30-50k a year, she'd have to budget herself to pay it back, and it's unlikely she'd do it that quickly.. but she doesn't need to. it's just the longer she takes the more she pays.

[spansen]

Pretty much my point, thanks for spelling it out for everyone.
:bow:

[teaahnuh]

Don't go into Fashion.
Im definitely not. I got into FIT's Communication and Design Program which is basically along the lines of Advertising/Graphic Design.


I don't understand why you wouldn't want to go to FIT and try everything they have to offer at such a less expensive price? What if you started out with something at Parsons and found out that you hated it, it doesn't sound like you could switch easily and why would you waste money doing it?

Parsons is actually waaaay more lenient about switching. They actually want you to try different things, thats part of their first year program.

Don't worry about taking on debt. Also, which school/program better suits you? Which is a better fit with you personally and your goals? I guarantee you'll get more out of the experience if you choose the one that is better tailored to you and what you want to do (programs, internships, etc.)

Either way, I don't envy your situation! Best of luck!

Yeah, I feel like I like Communications and am interested but Parsons gives me an opportunity to explore other options. I am open to learning everything and really want to have a variety of skills. That would be the main reason why I would want to go to Parsons.

[ZachMadeMeOdd]

When life gives you lemons, just say fuck the lemons and bail.


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FGrxKMwdUu8/SApLEV069bI/AAAAAAAAC0o/wTn1tA5elV8/s1600/Paul%2BRudd%2BForgetting%2BSarah%2B Marshall.jpg

[teaahnuh]

When life gives you lemons, just say fuck the lemons and bail.


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FGrxKMwdUu8/SApLEV069bI/AAAAAAAAC0o/wTn1tA5elV8/s1600/Paul%2BRudd%2BForgetting%2BSarah%2B Marshall.jpg

ahh man that would be epic. id rather bail than make a decision. :/

[alexa_ATL]

So i had a similar problem. I couldn't go to my dream school (NYU) because of the money and now i'm going to go to a pretty decent state school. As upset as I am about this, I know one thing - I can always transfer. If it's awful there is ALWAYS that option. You aren't stuck forever to one school. I'd go to the cheaper one for the first few years and the one that will propel your career more in the later years. Or even just go to grad school at Parsons (if thats something your interested in).

Thats my sensible advice. My heart wants to scream at you - GO TO THE DREAM AMAZING SCHOOL AND DO WHAT I CAN'T DO! but, yanno, i'm trying to help here. haha

[ghelms88]

Well, I have a problem.

I know that I don't regularly post on AP net, but I really didn't know where else to go and need some solid advice. I know theres an Education section but I doubt anyone goes there, and need advice right now about college.

I was accepted a while ago to Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. I always liked both, but decided ultimately that I wanted to go to Parsons in the end. Now I have to worry about how I'm going to pay for it. Heres the thing, Parsons costs about 57,000 a year and they gave me about 32,000 in Financial Aid and scholarships. I always knew that I would be taking out student loans, but with this I really have no idea how I would pay this. I live with a single parent, and have no college fund or anything. It would just be a stressful situation to always have to worry about money, and would be in huge debt in the end.

Now, I think my mom is trying to change my mind and convince me to go to FIT, thought it is really my decision in the end. FIT is a CUNY school, and it really only costs about 2000 a year not including room and board. I got into their Presidential Scholars Program so thats a plus, but I feel like I wont have enough room in their program to try different things. You start right into your major, and unlike Parsons don't get to try everything before you commit.

I really have no idea what to do, and I hope I explained this clear enough. Ive never had to make such a decision before that would change everything in my life. I dont want to have any regrets. Parsons is a much better school than FIT, and I dont want to be forced to go to FIT because of money. But then again, I dont want to be strangled by student loans for the rest of my life. Its just such a difficult situation that I dont know what to do. I really need some good advice. Should I go to Parsons, have lots of opportunities and be weighed by debt, or should I go to FIT and be somewhat debt free? Please help, I really dont know what I should do.

Did you happen to apply for financial aid? I didn't read your entire post, so I don't know exactly what you're money situation is but you have until the end of this month to fill out an application. It's possible to get grants and federal loans, some that you only have to pay partially back. Here's the website www.fafsa.ed.gov.

[teaahnuh]

So i had a similar problem. I couldn't go to my dream school (NYU) because of the money and now i'm going to go to a pretty decent state school. As upset as I am about this, I know one thing - I can always transfer. If it's awful there is ALWAYS that option. You aren't stuck forever to one school. I'd go to the cheaper one for the first few years and the one that will propel your career more in the later years. Or even just go to grad school at Parsons (if thats something your interested in).

Thats my sensible advice. My heart wants to scream at you - GO TO THE DREAM AMAZING SCHOOL AND DO WHAT I CAN'T DO! but, yanno, i'm trying to help here. haha

thats actually some pretty helpful advice. thanks. i was actually thinking of maybe going to grad school at parsons. will they be more likely to accept me since i have already one been accepted? do you know?


Did you happen to apply for financial aid? I didn't read your entire post, so I don't know exactly what you're money situation is but you have until the end of this month to fill out an application. It's possible to get grants and federal loans, some that you only have to pay partially back. Here's the website www.fafsa.ed.gov.

yeah thanks. i got 32,000 in financial aid and awards and stuff out of the 52,000.

[alexa_ATL]

thats actually some pretty helpful advice. thanks. i was actually thinking of maybe going to grad school at parsons. will they be more likely to accept me since i have already one been accepted? do you know?




yeah thanks. i got 32,000 in financial aid and awards and stuff out of the 52,000.

Not sure about that, but it can only help that you were accepted once. As long as you keep your grades up in college and hold the same standard as you did in high school you'll probably be fine. Not too positive about transfers and stuff when you've been accepted once though. That'd be helpful, though.. haha

[arizonahotrock]

Seriously...

Go to FIT.

There is no reason not to.

The amount of debt you are going to rack up is seriously going to counteract whatever happiness you might gain from going to Parsons over FIT.

And, the bottom line is this...a college's name, no matter what they say, is not going to get you a job. You are. You're work. You're effort. You're talent.

Go to FIT. Bust your ass...have fun...and explore your options.

Worst case scenario, FIT is not the right fit...you're out, what? Two gs? Big deal.

If you go to Parson's and decide it isn't right for you...you're fucked. Because those scholarships aren't going to hold up, and you'll end up with 57k of debt for nothing.

And, be brutally honest with yourself...you're 'dream' isn't to go to Parson's. It's to do what you would be going there for. Don't let that cloud your judgment.

[teaahnuh]

Seriously...

Go to FIT.

There is no reason not to.

The amount of debt you are going to rack up is seriously going to counteract whatever happiness you might gain from going to Parsons over FIT.

And, the bottom line is this...a college's name, no matter what they say, is not going to get you a job. You are. You're work. You're effort. You're talent.

Go to FIT. Bust your ass...have fun...and explore your options.

Worst case scenario, FIT is not the right fit...you're out, what? Two gs? Big deal.

If you go to Parson's and decide it isn't right for you...you're fucked. Because those scholarships aren't going to hold up, and you'll end up with 57k of debt for nothing.

And, be brutally honest with yourself...you're 'dream' isn't to go to Parson's. It's to do what you would be going there for. Don't let that cloud your judgment.

woow. thanks, that was good advice. i am slowly believing that FIT is the place to go.

[Scrandon]

And this is why our country is in a financial crisis.

No it's not, but it's cool that you made up your own reasons I guess.

[mymusicismylife]

Do a degree that will actually help you make money

This. I'm hoping to turn a psych major + relevant minor into a decent paying job right away.

Edit: But even if it doesn't, I have a steady job and am saving up money (even better ideas). I'm not a complete idiot.

[Just Matt]

My advice is don't waste your time trying to fool around and see what you like to do. Guess what you want to do, go fully into that program and then if you don't like it change later.

[ALEXMASONRULES]

I go to FIT now.

It is a GREAT school, and if you are from New York and can get the state tuition you should do yourself a favor and take it. I went to a private college my first semester, it was between there or FIT, and i chose there. I ended up hating it and transferred to FIT my 2nd semester. For the past 3 semesters that I have been at FIT, i dont owe a dime. I am still paying back the ONE semester from my first college.

Parson's may have that prestige for having more internationally known successes come out of it, but that by no means, means that it is a better school. I have a bunch of friends in the Communication Design program at FIT and they love it. They bust there asses and do amazing work, some already have freelance jobs during/right after their 2nd year.

It is ultimately your deicision, but honestly, it was said before, where your degree comes from does very little. It is about the experience you have, the internships you get, and FIT's programs and professors have more than enough resources to get you as much experience/networking hookups as you'll need.

Again, I was in the same boat. I much rather pay the $12,000 a year for tuition AND dorming than $20,000 just for ONE semester. Now I commute and only pay around $6000 a year for college and I know I'm getting quality experience. My brother goes to NYU and will have debt forever once we graduate, when I will have very little.

[TheMisanthrope]

go to a cheaper school. parsons for one year for you will cost the same as my entire college career

[bung]

I went to a state school, got my piece of paper, and graduated with $0 in debt.

[terror_91]

:bow:
Haha.

[aimee<3]

Well, I have a problem.

I know that I don't regularly post on AP net, but I really didn't know where else to go and need some solid advice. I know theres an Education section but I doubt anyone goes there, and need advice right now about college.


thats a problem people wont take you seriously.

[And Hours Pass]

thank you. i am shaking my head at all the bad advice in this thread given by people who have never had to deal with real debt in their lives. Seriously, debt SUCKS. If there is no great reason to get into it (and generally there's not), then I highly suggest you don't do it. It will change your life's path. For example, instead of taking that great internship that will propel your career far, you will take the shitty paying job that has no real long term career benefits just to make ends meet so you can keep up with the creditors. You will end up fucking yourself over with the choices you make in your life because you have DEBT weighing on your shoulders at all times. Just because you go to an expensive school DOES NOT MEAN you will get a better paying job than the person who went to the cheap school. Think long term here, it's hard but you will not "always regret" not going to the more expensive school. You WILL always regret the fact that you can't get the money that you wasted back. Think about it.
While I agree with a fair bit of this, it's an incredibly one-sided perspective. I went to a prestigious school that ended up causing me student loans; however, it also helped me land a great job that only recruits out of the top 10. Had I gone to other schools that would've been less expensive, I would have less student loans but also would not have even been considered for the job I currently have.

OP - this is an age old argument that does not have a right answer. All I can say is that if you have student loans, be responsible and try to pay not only on time and above the minimum, but also try to put extra money towards them whenever you can.

[tottivillarossi]

When life gives you lemons, just say fuck the lemons and bail.


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FGrxKMwdUu8/SApLEV069bI/AAAAAAAAC0o/wTn1tA5elV8/s1600/Paul%2BRudd%2BForgetting%2BSarah%2B Marshall.jpg
BEST POST EVER.

x

[.invisible ink.]

While I agree with a fair bit of this, it's an incredibly one-sided perspective. I went to a prestigious school that ended up causing me student loans; however, it also helped me land a great job that only recruits out of the top 10. Had I gone to other schools that would've been less expensive, I would have less student loans but also would not have even been considered for the job I currently have.

OP - this is an age old argument that does not have a right answer. All I can say is that if you have student loans, be responsible and try to pay not only on time and above the minimum, but also try to put extra money towards them whenever you can.

you're in a totally different situation than the OP. You're talking about an incredibly prestigious school probably an Ivy, am I close? She's talking about a career in Communications (which seems like an odd choice for either FIT or Parsons, to be honest). The chances of her landing a high paying job out of school are slim to none. What industry are you in? It makes all the difference in the world.

[And Hours Pass]

you're in a totally different situation than the OP. You're talking about an incredibly prestigious school probably an Ivy, am I close? She's talking about a career in Communications (which seems like an odd choice for either FIT or Parsons, to be honest). The chances of her landing a high paying job out of school are slim to none. What industry are you in? It makes all the difference in the world.
I completely disagree. I know history majors that have high paying jobs in finance. I have a friend who studied art history working as a sales person making far more than me. Regardless of what the OP majors in, that certainly won't dictate what field they end up going into. I work in marketing which is a direct correlation to communications and you can land a nice paying job in marketing out of school. I have a bunch of student loans, but at the end of the day, I made the right choice because I chose the school that helped me land a job.

Letting your finances decide your future is a bad idea. On all fronts. If OP's smart and determined, I don't think there's a wrong decision here.

[Dorian Grey]

False, but great username.

Correction. She has the potential to make that money back.

And thanks....even though it's spelled wrong.