Weighing the reality of the situation-- hoping to attend college in Portland this spring. I need practical advice. (Albany: student loan, house)

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by DavidAMIs

I haven't even been through school yet, myself. I'm 22 now. Took some time off after high school to do some traveling, volunteering and gain work experience. I'm also from the New York area and my sister goes to NYU. On my last trip cross country I stopped in Portland and fell in love. I made some really good friends in the 8 days I was there. When I got home I decided I was ready to start school so I applied to two schools. Warren Wilson in NC and Portland State in Portland. As much as I wanted to live in Portland and be there with the friends I had made, I made my decision based on Financial Aid. Portland State gave me nothing. I still had to cover 15k in private loans and my parents don't have the proper credit to allow me to do this. Instead I went with Warren Wilson who gave me an 8k grant and the rest was covered by Financial Aid. I'll be starting next month and I feel really good about it.

Honestly, Financial Aid should be your biggest concern right now... as well as time! There's not a lot of time to get ready for this move and you don't even have the rest of tuition covered. If I were you I'd take more time off and work to put some money away. Then when the time comes to apply to school again, I'd maybe look into different options for school. You say you don't care much about the cost, but really it should be your number one factor when making this decision.

Excellent advice.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

No, that's not what I'm suggesting at all (not sure how you inferred that from what I wrote). I believe the combination of going through a program in France plus the life experience/worldview of being from New York is a good combination to have in the state of Oregon from an artistic credibility standpoint.

How funny that you suggest I "inferred" something from what you wrote, and then you go on to reiterate the same thing. Just "being from New York" giving anyone any artistic credibility is a strange and odd notion.

Does that mean I can go anywhere and get a job as a coffee roaster, or a beer brewer, or rose horticulturist just because I'm from Portland ... oh yeah, and after doing a six-month course somewhere foreign?

[davemess10]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

Does that mean I can go anywhere and get a job as a coffee roaster, or a beer brewer, or rose horticulturist just because I'm from Portland ... oh yeah, and after doing a six-month course somewhere foreign?

Possibly if you sell it right and have the right audience.

Saying you're a city planner from Portland will definitely give you some pull in some circles.

[christiner81]

Originally Posted by karlsch

Get a degree from an accredited university, maybe even a state university in New York so you can get resident tuition.

Major in fine arts. Minor in something more marketable so you have something to fall back on because you might have a hard time making a living in the arts.

When you are done doing this, then move to your dream location.

This!

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

How funny that you suggest I "inferred" something from what you wrote, and then you go on to reiterate the same thing. Just "being from New York" giving anyone any artistic credibility is a strange and odd notion.

Do you really want to do this? OK, here we go. Let's walk through this from the start. I wrote:

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

.... you already went through a program in France and you're from New York, those things alone will probably give you far more artistic credibility than the OCAC degree in this neck of the woods.

You replied:

Originally Posted by EnricoV

I get that the program in France is good, but are you really suggesting that being "from New York" is a better educational achievement than a degree from what, to the best of my knowledge, is a respected school?

Hmmm, interesting. You substituted "educational achievement" in place of "artistic credibility", and then you focus on the being from New York part when I was talking about them together, a point which I clarified in my response:

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

I believe the combination of going through a program in France plus the life experience/worldview of being from New York is a good combination to have in the state of Oregon from an artistic credibility standpoint.

To which you gave the following reply:

Originally Posted by EnricoV

How funny that you suggest I "inferred" something from what you wrote, and then you go on to reiterate the same thing. Just "being from New York" giving anyone any artistic credibility is a strange and odd notion.

I did not simply reiterate, I clarified. But apparently you're not looking for clarity, that or you're just picking out phrases to argue with instead of reading the entire paragraph. Sorry if you think that's funny, strange, or odd.

Does that mean I can go anywhere and get a job as a coffee roaster, or a beer brewer, or rose horticulturist just because I'm from Portland ... oh yeah, and after doing a six-month course somewhere foreign?

Those analogies are kind of silly, but what the heck... let's say I'm from Portland and I invested some time learning about microbrewing as a craft, and then say I went to Munich for six months to study brewing in a place known all over the world for this specialty, and then I went to, I don't know, Austin and had a chance to blow $20k/yr to get an official certificate in brewing from the Lone Star Brewery, then I yes I would say the Portland and Munich experiences were more credible (and marketable locally) than getting the certificate.

[sayulita]

I don't think the OP ever said he was from New York CITY, just New York. What if it was a small town in rural New York state? Does that change the argument?

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

... then I yes I would say the Portland and Munich experiences were more credible (and marketable locally) than getting the certificate.

I only have one point I'd like to clarify on this foolishness. In the case of OCAC, it's not just a certificate, it's a degree. Or can be. Both undergraduate and post-graduate degrees are available, as is a 3-year certificate program that doesn't have the general studies requirements.

Whether the OP wishes to invest the kind of money (and time) it takes to get a degree is up to them, not to anyone else.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Originally Posted by EnricoV

I only have one point I'd like to clarify on this foolishness.

It was your analogy, not mine.

Since you keep ignoring the fact that you twisted my words around, all I can say is enjoy your holidays.

[kvon]

That would be my advice too although I don't think that being from New York alone is that big advantage.

Think about your financing carefully. Always remember that you can't file bankruptcy for educational loan.

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

Just did a quick search:

Oregon College of Art and Craft (OCAC) - Admissions Information - CollegeSolved

Their stated acceptance rate is 89% and they give out almost $5k in "grants" on average. To me what that means is that the college is basically banking on you taking out over $17k/year in government guaranteed student loans (which you can't get rid of, even in a bankruptcy) to pay for your tuition (or more if you use the loans for living expenses too).

I know very little about this school but I have to ask you, do you really want to go to this college so bad that you want to saddle yourself with that massive debt right now in exchange for a degree which may or may not have any tangible value (considering that they don't appear to be selective)? I mean you already went through a program in France and you're from New York, those things alone will probably give you far more artistic credibility than the OCAC degree in this neck of the woods.

Yes, you should contact the school about how to get set up here locally, but DO NOT use them as your sole resource for determining if this is the right thing to do. They are HIGHLY MOTIVATED to get their hands on your tuition dollars that you will be on the hook for later.

Sorry if I'm speaking out of turn. I don't know your whole situation. I just saw your "I don't care about loans" comment and the rushed nature of your post and I felt compelled to say something in case you are on a collision course towards making a tragic financial mistake.

Good luck in your quest.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Originally Posted by kvon

That would be my advice too although I don't think that being from New York alone is that big advantage.

I agree, what I meant was the NY + France combination giving a worldly perspective that may have value locally.