College of Creative Studies...is HOW much?!

[WickedEdges]

Soo yyyyeah....I know you're supposed to pay for a good education. But I also know that you don't allways get as much as you want for what you paid for. I personally believe that $162,000+ is more than I #1, could ever afford and #2, than is worth the effort. I mean had better be instructed my Michael Angelo's dead spirit or something equally miraculous for that much. I by no means am putting down the school or anyone in it. I'm not cheap. I'm willing to pay more than average for a good education. But this seems extreme to me. It looks liek the classes would be wonderfully perfect for me too. But all of this just depresses me. Even with the Montgomery G.I. Bill (nearly $40,000) AND a $20,000 scholarship, I'm still looking at $80,000+ left over. How am I supposed to pay for that? I'm just curious. I mean I better land the best job possible to pay of those loan amounts...

So, there's my rant. Any advice would be helpful? Thanks.

[dguy]

What school are you talking about?

[WickedEdges]

It's in the title. College of Creative Studies, Detroit.

[trop]

Based on the information presented on their website it seems like it would be more like 30,000 a year and would be 120,000 total so not sure were you got the 160,000 dollars.

[WickedEdges]

Oh, my bad, you are correct, It's like $13,000+ a semester. Still...Even that burns a big hole.

[Storyboard Dave]

Oh, my bad, you are correct, It's like $13,000+ a semester. Still...Even that burns a big hole.

Yeah, unfortunately private art schools aren't cheap wherever you look.

That being said, I know you got some scholarship money and some GI cash coming your way- have you applied for Federal Financial Aid? Talk to the folks in the Financial Aid office in the Yamasaki Building. Let them know you're really tight on money and see what sort of voodoo they can do for you. There might be some other merit scholarships and even ask about Work Study. Come Spring time I would definitely keep an eye out for the Alumni Scholarship and apply for that..

I'd never gloss over how easy/difficult one has to have it in order to endure CCS' rigors or the responsibility to pay the money back after graduating BUT look at it this way... it's an investment in yourself, your skills and it will pay off in the long run. Plopping down this sort of money is really no different than putting money up for a car, a house or some other major expenditure. You go into short term manageable debt, make the monthly payments (try not to look at the BIG whole number too intently because that gets daunting), and before long it'll be yours.

Yes, sacrifices will have to be made. That's going to be a given. Gone are the days of disposable income & fun money. Your summers will probably be spent working so you can help defray some of the costs of school. You'll probably be drawing your butt off over the summer just to hop up your skills but again- it's an investment in your future.

Going into debt for the right reasons and managing it afterwards is never a bad thing.

Good luck this upcoming semester.

[WickedEdges]

Fun money? I haven't had any since before I joined the Army. I'm barely making ends meat. I haven't had extra money in I don't know how long....

And I don't have ths scholarship money, I was just saying that to be hopeful. Even with it, it'll still be hard. And of course there's FAFSA, but how will I pay off the loans?

[Storyboard Dave]

Fun money? I haven't had any since before I joined the Army. I'm barely making ends meat. I haven't had extra money in I don't know how long....

And I don't have ths scholarship money, I was just saying that to be hopeful. Even with it, it'll still be hard. And of course there's FAFSA, but how will I pay off the loans?

I got by CCS without any student loans but then I also busted my butt 80+ hours a week over the summer. Not that I'm bragging or say that's the ideal way to go about it, but you are allowed 6 months grace after you graduate to start repaying your loans back.

Also realize that the interest on some loans are also tax deductible.

After graduation, hopefully you'll have steady work lined up for you- but that means you'd better be prepared to bust butt (make that several butts) in order to go out there and jockey for work. Not only are you competing amongst your CCS peers, but the tops from every other art school out there and then pros like me who've been doing it for years. There is work out there- you've got to be hungry, demanding and a professional willing to work for it.

What do you do during the summers now? Are you working and saving up money as well? And what about subsequent summers coming up? You willing to work lots of hours and possibly two or three jobs to help make ends meet?

One of the questions lobbed to me when I attended was..."How badly do you want it?". That's a very personal question and one only you can answer.

[Storyboard Dave]

And even if you have to take a break to attend some cheaper classes at the nearby community colleges to help knock down the tuition debt, it IS an option. And no one ever said you're guaranteed to graduate in four years either- it it takes you six years between working and school, then so be it.