OT - What was/is your college experience like?

 I'm sort of at a crossroads right now so I'm hoping to get some advice from you guys. Basically, what was your time in college like? Did you live on campus, did you go into serious student loan debt, would you change anything, etc. Oh, and was it before or after surgery, and how big were you at the time? I'm sure that could've had an effect too. 

I've been taking classes at the local two-year college for a few years and I'm ready to transfer over to a university. I guess my big issue is whether to live on campus or live with my parents. If I stay at home, I would save lots of $$$ so that I'd probably barely have to take out any student loans. My tuition and everything would be covered by grants and scholarships. 

But living on campus, I would be hoping to make some friends and maybe even start dating. It would be more about getting me out of my shell and hoping to have some of the experiences that I missed out on in high school, since I weighed 400 lbs back then. 

But then again, it'll probably still take me 2-3 years to finish my BA requirements. I could always live on campus the next year, right? Plus I could use the money I saved from living at home to go on the study abroad trips I've dreamed about. I could do a couple of them in 2011. That is SO tempting to me. 

Okay, I'll stop now. If you have gotten this far, thanks. I could use the help.  

I moved to a city 9 hours from home for college- so staying with my folks was not an option, but I enjoyed living in residence and I had a lot of laughs with my room mates. However, after two years, I had accumulated about $5k in credit card debt and $23k in student loans.

Its such a personal choice, I can't really offer too much insight- but if you do decide to go and get into debt, working on cruise ships for a couple years is a great way to pay off student loans! I was debt free in 2 years and saw the world, even though I heavy (about 190 lbs) I loved every moment of it!

Working on cruise ships, really? I had never heard of that being a well paying job before. Do you have any more information about that? I'm really curious.

The pay really isnt spectacular but as you have all your room and board covered- your living expenses are nil. I was making $1820 USD a month, cash, tax free (in 2006- probably changed since) and since you are not always able to get off the ship in port, you manage not to spend much.

I think it depends on how much you want that, and what the reasonable expectation of repayment is... for example, if you're going to school for engineering or finance or something,and can expect to make a reasonably high income afterward, I say go for it. if you're going to be a teacher paying back student loans for the next 20 years, I'd think long and hard about that.

there's NOTHING like living on campus to make friends and get involved in the social life of your school. i went to a four year university [university of miami] and lived on campus for the first two. after that i lived with people i'd met on campus, but we got cheaper housing off, but right next to school. those people are my closest friends now, hands down.

i had surgery in the middle of my senior year, so I went through most of college without it. i don't think that changed how awesome being on campus was.

what do you think/
ann

Well that's something I'm trying to decide. I'm either going to get into Accounting or Teaching. I'm leaning towards Accounting because of job prospects and salaries after graduation.

See, that's what I'm thinking about living on campus. I know that if I live at home, there's a very good chance that I won't really meet anyone new to become friends with, and I won't push myself to get out there and get involved in things.

 I have a weird story

I went to the state school and lived on campus.  It was awful.  I went through rush and didn't get my legacy which kind of soured things from the beginning.  My room had mold so I was moved to the upperclassman floor (where no one hung out..they had already established their friends).  And the person who was to be my roommate never showed up, so I was alone.  It was MISERABLE.  There I was in my lonely little dorm, going to and from my lonely (yet crowded) 400 people per class courses.  I even tried to get involved--I joined 3 clubs, partook in the activities, but it never carried over to my lonely time.  I was only occupied when I was at those actual meetings.

I moved home and commuted to the regional school where my parents taught.  The first semester was just as horrible.  I was taking random freshman classes, had no friends...same problems, different venue.

Things got better when I found my major and loved it, loved the professors, and took so many hours in it that I had the same people over and over.  I also got involved in many clubs and even went on trips with these people.

However, I am now very regretful about not giving the state school at least another semester.  I had so much against me but I think it would've gotten better.  Furthermore, now that I am applying to grad schools, I sure wish I had the better "name."  I knew the best thing for me to do from the beginning was to go out of state but I ignored that.  

All this is to say there are a lot of things to consider.  Sometimes the costs are worth it.  And if you haven't gone through the process already, sometimes the financial aid at some private schools is pretty great.  As for living on campus--I can't say it will make your life this or that.  I still found it very difficult to make friends, even living on campus.  And at least my family can keep me company when I'm at home.  I actually had an easier time getting involved when I was commuting but it did take a lot of effort and a lot more driving.  Either can be done, but you have to really work at it.  That being said, looking back I really feel I missed out.

Chatty Cathy here.  Um I SO wish I had done study abroad.  My first school had a program, and my current school only now is.  If I could give you one piece of advice, it'd be to GO FOR IT.  I have almost never regretted things that I did, and almost always regretted things that I didn't.  If there is a will, there is a way.  Get friendly with professors and financial aid, etc.  If you're lucky, they know what they're doing (unfortunately at my school, they do not).  

That's sort of the decision I have to make. One of the options is a huge state school, one of the biggest there is, and then the other is the one that's not too far from where I live and while still a state university, it's kind of a lower level than the other place.

I think one of my biggest fears is that things will turn out like you mention, that people will already have established their friends, so I'll be left without any anyway. And then I'll be away from home, still no friends, and way in debt.

Thanks for your stories. Yeah, I plan to do study abroad no matter what. I'm thinking I'll do a faculty-led shorter program in the Spring, and then hopefully go for a full semester in the Fall.

 I went to college about an hour away from my home town.  I started right after high school with about 5 of my best high school friends (who are still my best friends!).  We lived in the dorms the first 2 years and then off campus apartments the last two.  

My college experience was fantastic and there are very few things I would have changed about it.  I feel like being away from home was the best thing for me at that time.  I grew up so much during that time and really feel like I learned who I was and what I wanted from life.  

I was pre-op before college and was about 260 going in and 195 going out.  

I ended up with about $17000 in student loans. I don't think I'd take that much out again if I were to do it over but I had no financial sense then.  Oh well...live and learn...and pay!  

Good luck to you!

~Emily~

$17000 honestly sounds inexpensive considering how much universities charge these days. I think it would cost me $10000 in loans each year at the one school, and I don't think I'm comfortable getting $30000 in debt. It's just too much.

Hmm, lots to think about I guess. Thanks for your post.