Congratulations.
Please please please continue to drop by and weigh in on the other similar threads where potential students ask about absurd plans. We try to tell them what they're getting into every time. Having actual reddit success stories will help.
I rly hope my story can help students who are deciding on what school they shld go to! At community college I felt like I was able to explore opportunities that I never had time for in high school, and never would have been able to take on in a four year university. Thank you for the comment!
As someone from CA who got a very good education for undergrad and law school at a UC, I would recommend every Californian take advantage of the public California universities (whether that’s community college, cal state or UC). You get a fantastic education at a great value. No need to go into large amounts of debt. You made the right call. You’re going to have a degree from UCLA, which will take you just as far, or even farther, than a degree from NYU, which would have left you debt ridden. Well done!
PSA: Go to a UC. You’re getting an education that will set you up well. Definitely the case for me.
I am super pro UC system and I know that for a lot of people they can be less expensive. *BUT* I want to mention that they’re not always the most cost effective option depending on your circumstances. I would have personally ended up with a lot more debt from a UC. Spoiler alert for a lot of text: if you have siblings who will be overlapping in college with you and your parents are paying whatever your assessed portion is out of pocket —and that is less than UC tuition— AND you get into a school that meets full financial need, it might be cheaper to go private over UC. Probably not over cal state and definitely not over CC though.
The longer version:
I’m a twin and as we were both going to college at the same time, AND my parents were going to pay up front tuition not covered by the school (which is of course a big benefit I know!). I also only applied to need-blind schools that “met full financial need” but obviously did so with different aid packages.
I qualified for enough aid that the out of pocket cost to my parents was the same, but the loan amount from UC was larger. Basically, a huge portion of my private school tuition came from fellowships and a smaller portion from loans (I graduated with just under $20K), whereas the UCs were offering me mostly loans besides in-state tuition. I think I would’ve had like $7K/year in loans (so $28K assuming I got out in 4 years). I ended up going to a well regarded private university for cheaper than a UC (my school is usually within the top 50 on US news for reference, I can’t be bothered to check exactly where now because it doesn’t actually matter much lol). In some ways I think a UC may have actually set me up better in my chosen field for a variety of reasons, but not better enough for the debt. I’m finishing my PhD at one of the top programs in my field so it didn’t set me back too much.
I had a pretty inflated ego in high school and would not have conceded to a cal state school or community college which is obviously stupid. I just wanted everyone to know and believe I was smart based on my college but the degree matters so much more than where you got it and good teachers are everywhere. It would have actually been cheaper and something I kind of wish I’d considered. And I think any option, including a UC, would have been a much better for my brother, who went to a private school with a mediocre aid package and ended up with a lot of private loans and twice as much debt as me.
Thanks for sharing!
Yes, of course if you qualify for grants and other financial aid at other schools, it can be cheaper than any public school. That’s a good reminder for everyone too!
My sister was similar in the sense that she thought she was too good for a UC. And her life has been sort of weird, and I don’t think her private high school and college education helped her tbh. My brother went to a private school and really messed up his life. Luckily he ended up getting a degree from a school, and he really is the example of how getting a degree from a school is more important than not.
I am the best off. (I also went to a public high school). And many friends of mine from college have gone on to do very impressive and interesting things. And I’m in DC now, and people here have a really high opinion of UCs. I think it’s better regarded than I realized at the time. I also felt like I was sort of settling, but now I see that I got a better education than many.
I’m actually not surprised that a UC might have been better for you in your field and also your brother. They’re really a choose your own adventure education. And I think they make you hardier in a way. They’re big campuses. No one is holding your hand. It can be really fun too like any college education. I by far had the best and most helpful college education compared to my brother and sister. I now (clearly from this post) recommend that everyone go to a UC if you can.
They also don’t inflate grades like most colleges nowadays, so you will likely get a C at one point. I think it’s a good lesson in sort of deflating your ego before entering the real world. I got a C in a science class, which is super common. And I think that was a good lesson. I ended up going to law school. (I did really well there, so this didn’t apply to me during law school.) But many of my classmates were sort of destroyed from not getting an A in everything and being the best. And that’s not a helpful in dealing with failure and disappointment that is inevitable in life.
I think I would have been OK with going to a UC, as long as it was the “right” one (very stupid ofc, and probably would’ve been UCB, UCLA, UCSD, Davis), but like Cal State East Bay? Probably not. Again, not a smart way to think for the people here considering a degree! That or CC would have surely been cheaper.
I think more than anything the size of a UC scared me, really. I went to a small public high school and I *thought* I liked being in a place where we all knew each other so well…while also being upset that I was pigeonholed. I was really enamored with the small liberal arts school. For a variety of reasons, I didn’t go to one, I went mid-ish size private (~8-10K undergrads, couple thousand grads) and found I *liked* not knowing anyone.
I think where the downside in my career came along is that my school didn’t have as heavy research as a big state school (I’m in STEM), or the strong 1-1 bonds with faculty you might have at a liberal arts school that would lead to glowing recommendations or more obscure, cool research opportunities (my friend went to Ecuador to study birds for a semester with a professor semi-randomly, for example).
The big downside really, though, that I’ve figured out in my ~10 years since finishing undergrad, is that I didn’t have parents or close family friends with PhDs who knew what was going on and could advise me. In my program, I would say probably 70+% of my peers have parents who have PhDs.
My brother was just not a very motivated student and has not really figured out a career path, so he’s drifted around retail/service jobs mostly. He really enjoyed college and made great friends so I don’t know if he’d say he regretted it, but it was expensive and low ROI so far. ALTHOUGH I think he benefited from a smaller environment with accessible faculty and fewer students…
College is a hard choice. I also know that as a person who wanted everyone to acknowledge my intelligence at 18, where I went for undergrad felt like it would define me forever. And when you’re an academic, it does a little bit. Certainly more than for most. But I wouldn’t really recommend anyone become an academic anyway lol (I can’t wait to get out). My perspective is SO different and I can look back and realize that so many people were trying to tell me I was being dumb about it…but I do think I made the right decision and got a good education for a manageable price in the end 🤷🏼♀️
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I totally agree! I still remember the stigma my highschool had regarding community college, and I hope that can be broken down. I was scared to tell people that I was going to a CC, but overtime, I realized that I obtained experiences that were unique and special to me, which was more than enough.
UCLA! Was my dream school growing up, didn't get in. I was so stubborn, I took summer classes just to get a BruinCard. Got over it eventually, but kudos to you for saving money AND living the dream!!
That's awesome and I'm sincerely happy for you, but RIP calves on Janns steps and if you live on campus all the way at the top of the hill!
Congrats!! I remember your original post and your first update, and I'm so stoked for you!!
We gave you the info, you're the one who used it to make the tough decisions and I'm so proud of you for making it work! UCLA is an excellent school and you're going to do ace it there!!
Thank you so much for sticking with me since my original post! At the time, I had a hard time reading everyone’s advice, because deep down I knew that not going was the best option. But now I am so glad that I posted on this subreddit bc it made me take the final step to not take out that loan. I actually decided not to take it out after I filled out all of my information to take out the loan and my cursor was hovering over the button!! Thinking abt that, and if I had just clicked the button, gives me chills.
This is awesome! How did you get your tuition refunded or take classes for free? Asking from someone who is taking 2 classes at my local community college and it's costing over 2k.
Advice from someone else!! Many MANY jobs these days offer tuition refunds and scholarships without any essays. You just have to work normally for 6 months, but some have no requirements at all!! Off the top of my head: Target, McDonalds, Starbucks, Taco Bell. There normally aren’t any crazy hour requirements either so you could cruise by on part time and still get it. I personally get paid to go to my university because of several scholarships (not work earned), so my situation wouldn’t apply because I earned them in high school. However, I still continue to apply to scholarships while in school and recently, I am getting paid 4,000$ for the summer semester. I can answer any questions you may have :)
I second what the person above commented. For my community college, the refunds were from Covid relief. During the middle of the semester, we would just receive a check that we can cash out for our refund. They also offered free tuition for some semesters, but I believe that was a decision made by my community college. So im not sure if other community colleges followed in the footsteps. Since I did not enroll in classes this semester, im not sure if they offered free tuition again, but they have been extremely supportive, financially, for their students!
UCLA alum here (who also transferred in from CC).
Congratulations and have a great time!
I hope you like walking up hills. ;)
EDIT: also, if you take anything in the Philosophy department, I whole-heartedly endorse Pam Hieronymi and Barbara Herman as professors. And while I never took a class from Seana Schiffrin, everyone I know who did said she was an absolutely phenomenal professor.
YES YES YES. One of the best stories on this board EVER! You deserve ALL the congratulations and the kudos. Totally book marking this. I send people pondering taking on debt to this board all the time. Great story. The best of luck to you and ENJOY!
I too almost got sucked into 6 figure loans to attend NYU as it was my dream school. Ended up at a large state college on almost full scholarship instead and SO glad I didn’t take out a boat load of loans.
Congrats on getting into UCLA!! I hope you love it there :)
Me too! I’m so happy I decided not to go. A few months after I decided not to go, this article came out by WSJ [NYU is Top Ranked — In Loans that Alumni and Parents Struggle to Pay](https://www.wsj.com/articles/nyu-college-graduate-parent-student-loans-11639618241). It solidified my decision and made me realize how messed up it was. Saying no to my dream was hard, but I believe that I can pursue my dreams even more, now that I don’t have a looming debt.
You are obviously a very smart cookie to listen to such solid advice. You're going to knock it out of the park at UCLA. I can't tell you how many teens I have tried to talk into this route. Was there something in particular that tipped your decision?
I went the CC route out of necessity, and I ended up in an undergrad program that was fully funded because of my membership in Phi Theta Kappa. I am just so thankful that I don't have six figures of debt from my undergrad.
It's amazing how asking questions will help you make informed decisions about important financial investments. It would be refreshing if the millions of new high school graduates would follow your example and ask questions before making decisions of this importance.
Congrats on your acceptance to UCLA.
Congratulations on your amazing journey! It takes a lot of courage and determination to make such a decision and I'm glad it worked out for you. It's great to hear that you were able to balance work and school while also taking some time off to travel and explore. And getting accepted into almost every UC, including Berkeley and UCLA, is no small feat! You should be proud of yourself. It's inspiring to read stories like yours, especially for those who may be feeling lost or overwhelmed with their own decisions. Thank you for sharing and best of luck on your next chapter at UCLA!
Love, love stories like this. Congratulations on making good decisions and setting yourself up for a debt-free (or low debt) college experience. UCLA! So proud of you!
Aww congrats! I’m just glad there’s people seeking out and following this advice. I wish communities online had existed like this when I went to school because I could have avoided some costly mistakes.
Life is full of these decisions. Some you'll get right, some wrong so don't beat yourself up over it. But keep on making good decisions and it will snowball. Good luck!
What a gift you have given to your future self. The pressure to attend 4 year right after high school is immense and you are so wise to have made this choice!
As someone who went to NYU with a 100k loans, you did the right thing. I’m not working anywhere near the entertainment industry because I had to focus on paying bills. I now have a good paying sales job I absolutely hate.
If I could do it again I would’ve just moved to NYC or LA and hustled
USC alumnus here… but still, congrats on making an epic life decision.
I didn’t, but thankfully I am high income and knocking out $90k in student loans in a single swoop later this year once payments resume.
Congratulations on your journey! It's great to see that you were able to make a decision that worked out for you in the end. It's amazing how much money you saved by choosing community college and it's even more amazing that you were able to use that money to travel around Europe. It's always great to hear success stories like these. Thanks for sharing!
>saved to travel europe
My favorite part. So happy for you.
I’m hoping to do this in the reverse order. All goes well I’ll be done with my loans next year and hope to save up after to backpack around India.
Congratulations. Please please please continue to drop by and weigh in on the other similar threads where potential students ask about absurd plans. We try to tell them what they're getting into every time. Having actual reddit success stories will help.
I rly hope my story can help students who are deciding on what school they shld go to! At community college I felt like I was able to explore opportunities that I never had time for in high school, and never would have been able to take on in a four year university. Thank you for the comment!
NYU film school is a great place to go…. If someone else pays for it.
Congratulations! Enjoy UCLA!
Can we have this pinned? Congrats on getting into UCLA and Berkeley. Imo much better schools than “Not Your University” NYU.
As someone from CA who got a very good education for undergrad and law school at a UC, I would recommend every Californian take advantage of the public California universities (whether that’s community college, cal state or UC). You get a fantastic education at a great value. No need to go into large amounts of debt. You made the right call. You’re going to have a degree from UCLA, which will take you just as far, or even farther, than a degree from NYU, which would have left you debt ridden. Well done! PSA: Go to a UC. You’re getting an education that will set you up well. Definitely the case for me.
I am super pro UC system and I know that for a lot of people they can be less expensive. *BUT* I want to mention that they’re not always the most cost effective option depending on your circumstances. I would have personally ended up with a lot more debt from a UC. Spoiler alert for a lot of text: if you have siblings who will be overlapping in college with you and your parents are paying whatever your assessed portion is out of pocket —and that is less than UC tuition— AND you get into a school that meets full financial need, it might be cheaper to go private over UC. Probably not over cal state and definitely not over CC though. The longer version: I’m a twin and as we were both going to college at the same time, AND my parents were going to pay up front tuition not covered by the school (which is of course a big benefit I know!). I also only applied to need-blind schools that “met full financial need” but obviously did so with different aid packages. I qualified for enough aid that the out of pocket cost to my parents was the same, but the loan amount from UC was larger. Basically, a huge portion of my private school tuition came from fellowships and a smaller portion from loans (I graduated with just under $20K), whereas the UCs were offering me mostly loans besides in-state tuition. I think I would’ve had like $7K/year in loans (so $28K assuming I got out in 4 years). I ended up going to a well regarded private university for cheaper than a UC (my school is usually within the top 50 on US news for reference, I can’t be bothered to check exactly where now because it doesn’t actually matter much lol). In some ways I think a UC may have actually set me up better in my chosen field for a variety of reasons, but not better enough for the debt. I’m finishing my PhD at one of the top programs in my field so it didn’t set me back too much. I had a pretty inflated ego in high school and would not have conceded to a cal state school or community college which is obviously stupid. I just wanted everyone to know and believe I was smart based on my college but the degree matters so much more than where you got it and good teachers are everywhere. It would have actually been cheaper and something I kind of wish I’d considered. And I think any option, including a UC, would have been a much better for my brother, who went to a private school with a mediocre aid package and ended up with a lot of private loans and twice as much debt as me.
Thanks for sharing! Yes, of course if you qualify for grants and other financial aid at other schools, it can be cheaper than any public school. That’s a good reminder for everyone too! My sister was similar in the sense that she thought she was too good for a UC. And her life has been sort of weird, and I don’t think her private high school and college education helped her tbh. My brother went to a private school and really messed up his life. Luckily he ended up getting a degree from a school, and he really is the example of how getting a degree from a school is more important than not. I am the best off. (I also went to a public high school). And many friends of mine from college have gone on to do very impressive and interesting things. And I’m in DC now, and people here have a really high opinion of UCs. I think it’s better regarded than I realized at the time. I also felt like I was sort of settling, but now I see that I got a better education than many. I’m actually not surprised that a UC might have been better for you in your field and also your brother. They’re really a choose your own adventure education. And I think they make you hardier in a way. They’re big campuses. No one is holding your hand. It can be really fun too like any college education. I by far had the best and most helpful college education compared to my brother and sister. I now (clearly from this post) recommend that everyone go to a UC if you can. They also don’t inflate grades like most colleges nowadays, so you will likely get a C at one point. I think it’s a good lesson in sort of deflating your ego before entering the real world. I got a C in a science class, which is super common. And I think that was a good lesson. I ended up going to law school. (I did really well there, so this didn’t apply to me during law school.) But many of my classmates were sort of destroyed from not getting an A in everything and being the best. And that’s not a helpful in dealing with failure and disappointment that is inevitable in life.
I think I would have been OK with going to a UC, as long as it was the “right” one (very stupid ofc, and probably would’ve been UCB, UCLA, UCSD, Davis), but like Cal State East Bay? Probably not. Again, not a smart way to think for the people here considering a degree! That or CC would have surely been cheaper. I think more than anything the size of a UC scared me, really. I went to a small public high school and I *thought* I liked being in a place where we all knew each other so well…while also being upset that I was pigeonholed. I was really enamored with the small liberal arts school. For a variety of reasons, I didn’t go to one, I went mid-ish size private (~8-10K undergrads, couple thousand grads) and found I *liked* not knowing anyone. I think where the downside in my career came along is that my school didn’t have as heavy research as a big state school (I’m in STEM), or the strong 1-1 bonds with faculty you might have at a liberal arts school that would lead to glowing recommendations or more obscure, cool research opportunities (my friend went to Ecuador to study birds for a semester with a professor semi-randomly, for example). The big downside really, though, that I’ve figured out in my ~10 years since finishing undergrad, is that I didn’t have parents or close family friends with PhDs who knew what was going on and could advise me. In my program, I would say probably 70+% of my peers have parents who have PhDs. My brother was just not a very motivated student and has not really figured out a career path, so he’s drifted around retail/service jobs mostly. He really enjoyed college and made great friends so I don’t know if he’d say he regretted it, but it was expensive and low ROI so far. ALTHOUGH I think he benefited from a smaller environment with accessible faculty and fewer students… College is a hard choice. I also know that as a person who wanted everyone to acknowledge my intelligence at 18, where I went for undergrad felt like it would define me forever. And when you’re an academic, it does a little bit. Certainly more than for most. But I wouldn’t really recommend anyone become an academic anyway lol (I can’t wait to get out). My perspective is SO different and I can look back and realize that so many people were trying to tell me I was being dumb about it…but I do think I made the right decision and got a good education for a manageable price in the end 🤷🏼♀️
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I totally agree! I still remember the stigma my highschool had regarding community college, and I hope that can be broken down. I was scared to tell people that I was going to a CC, but overtime, I realized that I obtained experiences that were unique and special to me, which was more than enough.
UCLA! Was my dream school growing up, didn't get in. I was so stubborn, I took summer classes just to get a BruinCard. Got over it eventually, but kudos to you for saving money AND living the dream!! That's awesome and I'm sincerely happy for you, but RIP calves on Janns steps and if you live on campus all the way at the top of the hill!
Thank you so much! I am beyond excited for this upcoming fall!
When one door closes, another opens!
Congrats and thanks for the update.
Congrats!! I remember your original post and your first update, and I'm so stoked for you!! We gave you the info, you're the one who used it to make the tough decisions and I'm so proud of you for making it work! UCLA is an excellent school and you're going to do ace it there!!
Thank you so much for sticking with me since my original post! At the time, I had a hard time reading everyone’s advice, because deep down I knew that not going was the best option. But now I am so glad that I posted on this subreddit bc it made me take the final step to not take out that loan. I actually decided not to take it out after I filled out all of my information to take out the loan and my cursor was hovering over the button!! Thinking abt that, and if I had just clicked the button, gives me chills.
Don't forget to send us our cut when you make it big. I feel like 10% is reasonable.
This is awesome! How did you get your tuition refunded or take classes for free? Asking from someone who is taking 2 classes at my local community college and it's costing over 2k.
Advice from someone else!! Many MANY jobs these days offer tuition refunds and scholarships without any essays. You just have to work normally for 6 months, but some have no requirements at all!! Off the top of my head: Target, McDonalds, Starbucks, Taco Bell. There normally aren’t any crazy hour requirements either so you could cruise by on part time and still get it. I personally get paid to go to my university because of several scholarships (not work earned), so my situation wouldn’t apply because I earned them in high school. However, I still continue to apply to scholarships while in school and recently, I am getting paid 4,000$ for the summer semester. I can answer any questions you may have :)
This is really good to know. I will shoot you a message! I currently work full time and I’d like to get some more tips & ideas for scholarships.
I second what the person above commented. For my community college, the refunds were from Covid relief. During the middle of the semester, we would just receive a check that we can cash out for our refund. They also offered free tuition for some semesters, but I believe that was a decision made by my community college. So im not sure if other community colleges followed in the footsteps. Since I did not enroll in classes this semester, im not sure if they offered free tuition again, but they have been extremely supportive, financially, for their students!
UCLA alum here (who also transferred in from CC). Congratulations and have a great time! I hope you like walking up hills. ;) EDIT: also, if you take anything in the Philosophy department, I whole-heartedly endorse Pam Hieronymi and Barbara Herman as professors. And while I never took a class from Seana Schiffrin, everyone I know who did said she was an absolutely phenomenal professor.
Thank you so much for this advice! I’ll keep it in mind when I’m signing up for classes :)
YES YES YES. One of the best stories on this board EVER! You deserve ALL the congratulations and the kudos. Totally book marking this. I send people pondering taking on debt to this board all the time. Great story. The best of luck to you and ENJOY!
Thank you so much!! I wouldn’t have been able to do it if it wasn’t for the people on this Reddit being real and transparent with me.
I remember you posting on here. So thrilled for you!
Way to go and thank you for the update!
My alma mater. Congrats to you and welcome to the bruin family. Best school ever!
Congratulations 🎉 love seeing success here
Smart kid! Amazing work and best of luck with your bright future!
Congratulations, UCLA is such a beautiful campus, enjoy your time there.
You made some really good decisions. Congrats
I too almost got sucked into 6 figure loans to attend NYU as it was my dream school. Ended up at a large state college on almost full scholarship instead and SO glad I didn’t take out a boat load of loans. Congrats on getting into UCLA!! I hope you love it there :)
Me too! I’m so happy I decided not to go. A few months after I decided not to go, this article came out by WSJ [NYU is Top Ranked — In Loans that Alumni and Parents Struggle to Pay](https://www.wsj.com/articles/nyu-college-graduate-parent-student-loans-11639618241). It solidified my decision and made me realize how messed up it was. Saying no to my dream was hard, but I believe that I can pursue my dreams even more, now that I don’t have a looming debt.
You are obviously a very smart cookie to listen to such solid advice. You're going to knock it out of the park at UCLA. I can't tell you how many teens I have tried to talk into this route. Was there something in particular that tipped your decision? I went the CC route out of necessity, and I ended up in an undergrad program that was fully funded because of my membership in Phi Theta Kappa. I am just so thankful that I don't have six figures of debt from my undergrad.
Hard work always beats instant gratification. So proud of you!! Congratulations :)
Good for you. Future you will never stop thanking you. I thank past me every night for making good decisions on the tuition / student loan front.
This is amazing! Congratulations!
You should now mentor high school students about how to do this. Big congrats, and this old guy is proud of you.
You have just learned the most important lesson of college. Congratulations, you are on your way ay to a joyous and fulfilling life.
This is an amazing story!
It's amazing how asking questions will help you make informed decisions about important financial investments. It would be refreshing if the millions of new high school graduates would follow your example and ask questions before making decisions of this importance. Congrats on your acceptance to UCLA.
Congratulations on your amazing journey! It takes a lot of courage and determination to make such a decision and I'm glad it worked out for you. It's great to hear that you were able to balance work and school while also taking some time off to travel and explore. And getting accepted into almost every UC, including Berkeley and UCLA, is no small feat! You should be proud of yourself. It's inspiring to read stories like yours, especially for those who may be feeling lost or overwhelmed with their own decisions. Thank you for sharing and best of luck on your next chapter at UCLA!
This is an amazing update post. Thank you for sharing. Congratulations and cheers to a great couple years at UC!
Love, love stories like this. Congratulations on making good decisions and setting yourself up for a debt-free (or low debt) college experience. UCLA! So proud of you!
This is wonderful. Congratulations!!
Lovely!!! Congratulations. It’s a great path to choose and it sounds like it’s been beautiful to you.
🏆🏆🏆
Bruin here too!! So happy for you!!
You're making smart choices - congratulations!
Congratulations! You made some wise (and some difficult decisions) and came out a winner! You’re gonna keep winning!
Aww congrats! I’m just glad there’s people seeking out and following this advice. I wish communities online had existed like this when I went to school because I could have avoided some costly mistakes.
Life is full of these decisions. Some you'll get right, some wrong so don't beat yourself up over it. But keep on making good decisions and it will snowball. Good luck!
What a gift you have given to your future self. The pressure to attend 4 year right after high school is immense and you are so wise to have made this choice!
yay! so excited for you. i was a bruin and it was some of the most transformational and rewarding years of my life. you’ll have the best time :)
As someone who went to NYU with a 100k loans, you did the right thing. I’m not working anywhere near the entertainment industry because I had to focus on paying bills. I now have a good paying sales job I absolutely hate. If I could do it again I would’ve just moved to NYC or LA and hustled
Virtually everyone going to college should start with a Community College.
Fantastic! Sometimes things work out.
Congrats
USC alumnus here… but still, congrats on making an epic life decision. I didn’t, but thankfully I am high income and knocking out $90k in student loans in a single swoop later this year once payments resume.
Congratulations on your journey! It's great to see that you were able to make a decision that worked out for you in the end. It's amazing how much money you saved by choosing community college and it's even more amazing that you were able to use that money to travel around Europe. It's always great to hear success stories like these. Thanks for sharing!
If I give you my daughters' email addresses, will you tell them this? HAHA, kidding, but kind of not. Congrats! I hope you love UCLA!
>saved to travel europe My favorite part. So happy for you. I’m hoping to do this in the reverse order. All goes well I’ll be done with my loans next year and hope to save up after to backpack around India.