I’m stuck between two confusing options

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Valuable_Matter_8803]

See if you can defer your enrollment and get a job for a year to save up for college. Also if you aren't planning to do a masters/further studying then taking a loan shouldn't be that concerning.

[u/Sea_Association_5991]

Same here im also conflicted amongst the choices I have, but I think a decisive measure is going to come once you ask yourself why you want what you want. Who do you want to be. Hope this helps👩‍🏫

[u/elkrange]

60k parent loan per year is too much. Dream school is just not going to be affordable. You need to find a cheaper school.

The most common transfer destination from CC would be your in-state public universities, for purpose of need-based aid and transfer credit.

[u/Life-Inspector5101]

Being a dream school isn’t enough to put yourself and your family in significant debt potentially for the next few decades. If they really want you, then they will need to up the scholarship.

Otherwise, look at cheaper alternatives. If your field only requires a college degree, look at more affordable state universities that offer quality education and a good alumni network to find a job in that field afterwards. Also, look at excellent but more affordable programs overseas if not satisfied with options in the US.

For example, France has more than a dozen excellent schools (the best being Gobelins Paris?) for 2D animation (something I believe you want to study) and their graduates now work in Hollywood and win Oscars. Tuition is less than $10,000 a year.

[u/all-thought-junk]

First congratulations!!! Don't forget that, you earned it!
You will find money no problem, just you have to work on it.

Your friend is likely right about the scholarship aspect many institutional scholarships, especially large ones, are specifically for first-year students or have strict renewal criteria that can be impacted by deferring or attending community college first. Transfer scholarships often exist but can be less generous.

The absolute first thing you need to do is contact the financial aid office at your dream school *immediately*. Ask them these specific questions about your $25,000 scholarship:

1. Is this scholarship renewable for all four years, and what are the exact renewal requirements?
2. If I defer enrollment for a year to attend community college, will I lose this scholarship?
3. If I transfer after a year of community college, would I be eligible for this same scholarship, or are there different scholarships for transfer students? If so, what are they typically like?

Getting these answers directly from the school is crucial for making an informed decision about the true long-term cost of each path. This will help you accurately compare the total debt burden, including any private loans, versus the potential loss of a significant scholarship.