Part1

TellMeAboutYourself

Task1 IamaJunioratHighTechHighNorthCountythisyear.Ihavebeenherefor
abouttwoyearsnow,myschoolisquitedifferentbecausemyschoolisaprojectbased
charterschoolsoIreallygetthechancetoshowmyindividualityandcreativitythroughallof
theprojectsthatIdo.WhilebeingajuniorIhavealsocreatedmyownbusiness.Iamalocal
DjintheSanDiegoareaandhaveownedmyownbusinessforabouttwoyearsnow.I
havealsoworkedatahospitalindowntownSanDiegoforabout3yearsnow.Ilovemy
jobsandmyschool,Iamahardworking,smart,motivatedpersonthatiswillingtodo
whateveritisnecessarytogetthejobdone.Ialsoreallylovethearts.Ilovecreatingthings
andputtingmyknowledgetothetestandshowinghowhardofaworkerIam.Iama
positivesmilingyoungmanthatisreallygoodwithpeople.Iloveinteractingwithstrangers
andgettingtoknowpeopleallthetime.Iamverygoodwithaccountingandamverygood
withhandlingmoneyaswell.Finally,Ihavelivedinmultiplecitiesandknowmywayaround.
Iwouldlovetowork____becauseIthinkitwouldbeagreatfunexperiencewithnew
obstaclesandlessonsthatIamreadytolearn.

Task2 1.DreamCollege:OregonStateUniversity(Beavers)forthemajorIwanttogo
into(communications,engineering),perfectclimateformecold,rainy,nottoobright.Ilovethe
atmosphereofthecampuslifeandwhattheschoolhastooffer.Iwillreallyenjoythisschoolalot
andcantwaittoapply.Atthisschool,Iwillbeabletotakemymajortoawholenewlevelandrun
withabetterdegreeandmoreaccomplishedwork.

a.)Yearlyfee:$41,754Tuitionandfees,$21,000BooksandSupplies,$2,000Roomand
Board,$10,000PersonalandMisc,$2,586.

2.Option2:ChicoState(CSU)Samemajorofferingandgreatclimate.Coldandcloudy(just
howIlikeit.)Thisschoolissecondaryforitsofferingsandlocation.Thoughitoffersthesame
majorthatIwouldliketogointo,itdoesnotofferthemajorinsuchabroadcontextandallowme
toreachmyfullpotentiallikeIwouldatOSU.Itisalittletooruralformeaswell.But,itisabout
$20,000cheaper.

a.)Yearlyfee:$22,414Undergraduatetuitionfees,$7,002Books,$1,746RoomandBoard,
$11,208Transportation,$1,092PersonalExpenses,$1,366.

3.BackupSchool:PalomarCollege.IdonotbelieveIwillgointothesamemajor.IthinkifIhave
togotoPalomarIwillwanttostudymycommoncoreclassesbeforeIgointoahighermajor.
Palomarclassesarepushedmoretowardspeoplewhoaretemporarilyattendingforextra
credits.IfPalomarismyonlyoptionleft,IwilltrytomakeupforwhatIcouldnotachieveinmy
highschoolcareerandtransfertoahigheruniversity.Iftransferringisnotanoption,thenI
supposeIwillproceedwithmajoringinacoursethatissimilartotheonethatIwhollydesire.

a.)Yearlyfee:Pricevariesfrom$5,800$11,000.9monthisconsideredawholeyear.

4.OregonStateUniversity3Majors:

SoundTechnician/Engineering
Communications/Design
Business

3MajorTopics

Task3 Sounddesign/engineering.Basicallythiscourseisstudyingthebasisof
soundtechnologyandwhatwecandowithit.Itisthestudyofhowwehearthingsaswell
ashowsoundismade.MebeingaDjandall,Iwouldlovetogofurtherintothesubjectof
music.Whatbetterwayofgettingintomusicthentolearnhowmusiciscreatedinthefirst
place?Iwouldlovetogointothesubjectasmynumberfieldofstudy.
Communications.Communicationsisallabouttalkingtopeople,dealingwith
peoplesstuff,etc.Ilovepeople.IlovecompanyandIlovemeetingnewfacesallthetime.I
especiallylovegoingtobigcitiesandseeingallthenewfacesaroundthestreetsand
makingnewfriendsallaround.CommunicationsisahighsecondonmylistofthingsIwant
tostudyincollege.
Business.SeeinghowIalreadyownmyownbusiness,abusinessdegreewouldbe
idealinthesituationIamin.Itwouldalsohelpmeinmycommunications(minor)and
possiblyinmysounddesignmajorifIgointoit.Everythingneedsabusiness.SoIassume
thatasoundtechnologydegreewouldturnintosomekindofbusiness.Ontopofthat,Ilove
negotiatingwithpeopleandtalkingaboutprofessionalsubjects.Ilovetodealwithpeople.
Itsasidehobby..

3MajorFactors,3Majors

Task4 1.NetworkandComputerSystemAdministrators
Basicknowledgeofcomputersandelectronics.
Thinkingabouttheprosandconsofdifferentwaystosolveaproblem.
Verbalabilities,talkingtopeople,listentowhatpeoplehavetosay.
Beabletoarrangethingsacertainway.
Payattentiontosomethingwithoutbeingdistracted.
Figuringouthowasystemshouldworkandhowchangesinthefuturewillaffectit.
makegeneralrulesorcomeupwithanswersfromlotsofdetailedinformation.

2.SoundEngineeringTechnicians
Knowaboutcomputersandelectronics.
Listeningtoothers,notinterrupting,andaskinggoodquestions.
Payattentiontosomethingwithoutbeingdistracted.
Noticingaproblemandfiguringoutthebestwaytosolveit.
Recognizespokenword.
Learnhowtoorderandarrangethings.
Communicatebywritingandspeaking.

3.ComputerSystemAnalysts
Knowthebasicsofcomputersandtechnology.
Noticewhenproblemshappen.
Finddifferentwaystosolveaproblem.
Measuringhowwellasystemisworkingandhowtoimproveit.
Knowingagoodamountofmathtosolveaproblem.
Seehiddenpatterns.
Listeningtoothers,notinterrupting,andaskinggoodquestions.

Part2
FreshmanExpenses:

Task1

OregonStateUniversityFreshmanExpenses
ChicoStateUniversityFreshmanExpenses
PalomarFreshmanExpenses

Task2

OregonStateUniversityScorecard
ChicoStateUniversityScorecard
PalomarCollegeScorecard

ScorecardReflection:

1.IdidnotknowthecostsofOregonState,IhaveresearcheditbeforebutIhavent
foundtheactualcostuntilnow.Iamactuallyveryexcitedaboutit!SamewithChicoState,I
amexcitedtoseewhatthesetwocollegeshaveinstoreforme.Bothcollegesaremuch
cheaperthenIinterpretedandIbelievethateitheroneofthesewouldbeagoodfitforme
andwhatIwanttopursueinthefuture.Palomarcollegewasprettyexpected,Ididnotknow
that0%ofthestudentshad/havedegreesfromtheschool.Ithoughtthatwasincredibly
interestingseeinghowmanystudentsgothere.WhenIlookedatOSUIhadnoideathat
only60%ofthestudentsthatattendgraduateeachyear!Seeinghowexpensivetheschool
is,Iwouldthinkthatmorestudentswouldwanttostayandgraduate.WhenIlookedat
Chico,Isawthatitwasevenlower.Only57%ofallstudentsthatattendgraduateperyear.
WithPalomarbeingtheschoolwiththelowestamountofstudentsgraduatingIthinkImay
wanttorethinkmydecisions.WithsomuchtimeuntilIgraduatehighschoolItellmyselfthat
IcanstillchangemydecisionsandthatIamnotobligatedonthechoicesthatImakenow.
SometimesIforgethowfarawaycollegeis,yethowfastitsapproaching.

NetPriceForEachCollege:

Task3

OregonStateUniversity

ChicoState

PalomarCollege

Part3

Task1CreatingabulletpointlistofthingsthatapplytomeontheFAFSA.
MeritAid,suchasgrantsandscholarshipsfromcolleges.
StudentLoans(maybe)

Task2

Task3
Loansthatmaybeofferedtome:
FederalDirectSubsidizedLoans
Year1:$3,500(Limitincreaseseachyear)
6.8%InterestRate
3.75%InterestRate
IbelieveItwouldbegoodformetogowithaFederalDirectSubsidizedLoan.I
knowIshouldnotalwaysgoforloansthatareofferedbutIamqualifiedforthisloanbased
onmycostoftheschoolsIwanttogotoandmyincome,aswellaswhatIcanpayforwith
myfamily.

Task4
MeritBasedAidsAvailable:
AngieHoutzScholarship.Ihavetherequirementsforthismeritbasedaid.Ihavelooked
throughtheaidandIhavenoticedthatallofthenecessarythingstobeapplicable.I
can/haveobtainedtheGPAneededtoapplyforthisaswellascommunityservicehours.
GettingagoodrecommendationletterwillbepossibleformewiththestudythatIwantto
gointoaswellastheschool.
CourageToGrowScholarship:Thecouragetogrowscholarshipsoundsalotbetterthan
thefirstscholarshipIhavelookedat.IdontknowexactlyifitistheperfectmatchforwhatI
amlookingforbutitisdefinitelysomethingIwilllookinto.IreallymeettheGPA
requirementsandapplytoeverythinglistedthatareneededtoobtainthisscholarship.
NationalMeritScholarships:IthinkIapplytothis.IhavelookedthroughitandIcouldbe
wrongbutitseemstomethatthisfitsmycriteriaaswellastheothers.Idontreallyknow
whatitmeanswhenwediscussnationalmeritscholarshipsbutIamgoingoutofstateand
aminthecontextofwhatisrequiredforthescholarship.

Task5 Itstrue!Astoryfromareallifestudenthasreallyinterestedme.Iwantedto
seewhatitmeantbyareallifestudenttalkingaboutwhatthiswholecollegeexperience
waslike.Ihavenowfoundoutfirsthandwhatthisstudentwasexperiencingandgone
through.Herpersonalstorywasrefreshingwhenshetalkedaboutnotwantingtoleaveher
mom.ItsoundslikewhatshedidreallyworkedoutforherandIamweighingmyoptionsfor
thesame.

Part4

Task1 OnerepaymentplanImightconsideristheGraduatedRepaymentPlan.This
repaymentplansoundsextremelypromisingandreliable.TheotherrepaymentplanIam
lookingintoistheIBR.SeeinghowIwillhaveajobduringcollegeIwillbeabletopayback
mydebtwiththemoneyIhaveearnedfromworking.Icanalsosetasidethemoneythatis
leftoverforasmarterinvestment.

Task2 ForallthreeschoolsIhavediscoveredthatIwillbeowing$9,962foreachschool.
TimesthatbythreeandIwouldowe$29,886.Itwilltakemeapprox.120monthsforstandard
andgraduatedratewith$2,600ininterest.Aftermygraceperiodmymonthlypaymentwilllook
likeanaverageof$100permonth.Thetotalcostforborrowingthismoneywillbe$12,562.Ithink
itsveryexpensive.Ihavenotrealizedhowexpensiveloanswouldbe,nordidIrealizehowmuch
itwouldbetogetloans.

Task3 Itwassostrikingthecostsandfinancesofallthecollegesandwhatitwould
taketogetintothem.Itwasespeciallystrikinghowmuchittooktogetloans.Itwaseven
morestrikinghowmuchittooktorepayalltheloansthatcouldbegivenouttomewhenI
needtoapplyforthecollegesIwanttogoto.WhenlookingatcollegesIdecidedthatI
wantedtogotoacollegewithagoodpositiveenvironmentwithlotsofenergyandexciting
people.Itwasstrikingtomethatwhenactuallystartingtoapplyforcollegesandtalking
aboutpayingformytuition,locationandenvironmentarethelastthingIdecidedtonotice.
Costsandqualitiesaremostimportant.Ihaverealizednowthatittakesalotmoreeffortto
getintocollege.ItcostsalotmoremoneythanIthoughtitdid.Overall,lookingatcolleges
isstriking.IneverthoughtIwouldcomethisfarintothinkingaboutwhatcollegeIwouldlike
togoto.Butnowgettingtothepointwherecollegeisapproachingintomylife,itisalmost
asurrealexperiencethateveryoneshouldgothrough.Ashardandtediousasitiswhen
applyingforcolleges,ithastobedone,andsometimesitcouldgetfun.
Myoriginalideasforaffordingcollegehavebeencompletelywipedout.Ihave
realizedthatwhatmygoalswerearecompletelyunreachable.Myoriginaldesignswereto
notevenconsiderstudentloansandpayforcollegeusingthemoneyIreceivewhen
workingatmultiplejobs.NowIunderstandisitnotthateasy.Acquiringfinancialaidcan
heavilyimpactcollegechoosingwhenlookingatcostsandloans.Iwanttoapplyfor
financialaidandgetasmuchfinancialhelpasIcan.
Mycollegeoptionsarestillcontinuedtobethesame.Iamhappywiththecollege
choicesIhavemade,theonlythingIhavereconsideredistheorderofmyfavorite
colleges.Forinstance,IreallythoughtOSUwouldbemynumberoneoptionwhenapplying
tocollege.ItoldmyselfIwasdestinedtogothereandIloveditsomuch.Thecampusand
theenvironmentwasperfectforme.NowthatIhavelookedthroughthecostsandgains
thatIcouldgetifIapplyfordifferentcollegeswiththesametypeofculture,itmightbea
betterdecisiontoapplytoacollegewithasmallercostofapplicationandhigherloan
guarantee.IstillloveOSUandtheoptionsthattheygiveout,Ijustlearnedthatitisvery
expensiveandveryhardtogetinto.Itwillstillbeonmyoptions,justnotasaprioritynumber
one.
SomeofthebiggestfinancialchallengesIforeseeinthefutureconsistofnotbeing
abletopaybacktheloansIreceivewhenapplyingforcollege,notbeingabletopayback
financialaid,notbeingabletoobtainajobincollegetohavemoneytostartpayingback
debt,andnotbeingabletopayforallofmysupplies.Thesearejustguessesand
approximations.IdonotknowexactlywhatIwillfaceinthefuturebutIamsureIamready
foranythingthatcomesmywaywhenitcomestochallenges.
DuringsenioryearIplanonmakingsureIhavejobtogotowhenIamincollege.I
ampositiveIwillbeabletopaybackloansanddebt,butweallhaveourfearsofthe
unknown.Iconsidermymomacollegecounselorforme.Sheknowsalotaboutcollege
(seeinghowmysisterjustfinishedherfirstyearthere)sosheknowsexactlywhatIshould
andshouldnotdo.Iwillgetalotofsupportfrommyfamilytohelpmepaybackmybillsthat
Iowe.
MycareeroptionshavereallyshownmethatImightbeabletomakealotmore
moneythanIthinkIwill.IamveryopenedtoworkinganywherethatIdontmindandthat
payswell.Withmyfutureplans,Iwouldneverwantcollegedebtandunpaidloanstogetin
thewayofwhatIreallywanttodointhefuture.IhavetoldmyselfthatIwouldnotletmoney
getinthewayofmylifegoalsandachievements.HopefullyIamrightandwillnothave
moneyproblemswhenfinishingcollege.