Cost of living question for those in the Orlando area. About This Page:

[Huntermom]

Will he consider the military? I would not co-sign the loans for him until he has an equal amount in savings. Unless you want to pay them back for him. Can he join a local magic society? He may have the chance to talk to others about how hard his choice will be.

What about making a deal that he has to complete a couple of community college courses first. He could even do them in Orlando. I know we have a few community colleges that offer housing but still as pretty inexpensive.

Tther thing he needs to look at is whether a different program will offer more scholarship moneys, especially a program that offers need based aid.

He sounds like a smart enough kid but I agree, there is no motivation. And my concern would be that Full Sail has some great marketing,

[Huntermom]

Full Sail University Reviews - Legit or Scam?

Found this, however, I know nothing about the reviewer.

[minemoz1]

I hear you Huntermom!! If he was our kid, he would be going to local community college or state college and would have been told that's where he would start his education. Then again, he would also have had a job when he turned 16. As we don't have control in his life, only guidance, we can only offer our opinions and life experiences. He has to save up money before we will cosign. If he doesn't, then he'll have to explore other options for school.

As for finding a job in the creative fields, it always depends on talent and persistence. He's setting himself up for a harder career path (which I told him about already) as many of my classmates experienced upon graduation. Many never found careers in art and ended up doing something else.

[disneyparis]

OK, having 3 kids- 1 long out of college, one a senior now and one beginning college this year- I have to chime in here! I also have my own business working with kids who are performance majors or arts majors (a few others thrown in there too!) select and apply to colleges. While I think it's great that you're willing to help your nephew, please consider what it will do to family relationships if he A) doesn't finish school B) can't get a job C) won't get a job he considers "beneath" him after graduation, etc. And where is his mom in all of this? She didn't want him to work in HS, so why isn't she willing to help pay for him now?
While I'm sure that your nephew is a very nice guy, his accomplishments aren't at the top of the pile and since he hasn't bothered to apply to a college until now, what assurances do you have that this major isn't a whim and that he can succeed? My D is now a senior at a top-tier conservatory as a voice major. She had a perfect score on her ACTs, a 5.2 weighted GPA and enough APs and dual-credit courses to cover all of her gen ed requirements in college. She has had a job since she was 16, sometimes had two shows in rehearsal and still had top grades. She chose the school she felt could best prepare her, knowing that it would require loans, a work-study job and other employment. In her final year, she still has her work-study, has 2 retail management jobs, has a paid church gig (and required rehearsals) and also has a few private voice students, all while staying at the top of her class and being nominated for two international awards. My point is that a student choosing the path that is taking them towards a career where they have to make their own opportunities and where they are judged subjectively must show initiative and drive in order to succeed.
Has your nephew had any experience in the film industry? Has he sought out chances to work locally? There are many good programs at community colleges where he could get his feet wet and see if hew willing to do what it takes. I would never, ever spend a ton of money at a school which doesn't require some academic courses- he'll need that should he change mid-stream and transfer to another field or want to go to grad school. A school such as the one he is looking at should require and guarantee placement at at least 2 internships while in college- if not, run. For comparison, look at the film schools at USC, NYU, RIT, Northwestern,.etc. Those are reputable programs with long histories and their graduates do well. Without contacts in such a field- and those are made during internships- you can be the best there is and never have your work considered by anyone at a major studio ( or even most minor ones with a budget!).
This young man needs a good, solid, year of full time work under his belt and he needs to come up with a list of at least 5 schools to consider and have done the research on all of them to compare and contrast and visited them if at all possible. This is standard procedure for anyone considering applying to college and kids gain valuable skills from proceeding in an orderly fashion- perhaps his former HS guidance counselor might be willing to offer him some help?

[GATechGal]

Originally Posted by disneyparis

OK, having 3 kids- 1 long out of college, one a senior now and one beginning college this year- I have to chime in here! I also have my own business working with kids who are performance majors or arts majors (a few others thrown in there too!) select and apply to colleges. While I think it's great that you're willing to help your nephew, please consider what it will do to family relationships if he A) doesn't finish school B) can't get a job C) won't get a job he considers "beneath" him after graduation, etc. And where is his mom in all of this? She didn't want him to work in HS, so why isn't she willing to help pay for him now?
While I'm sure that your nephew is a very nice guy, his accomplishments aren't at the top of the pile and since he hasn't bothered to apply to a college until now, what assurances do you have that this major isn't a whim and that he can succeed? My D is now a senior at a top-tier conservatory as a voice major. She had a perfect score on her ACTs, a 5.2 weighted GPA and enough APs and dual-credit courses to cover all of her gen ed requirements in college. She has had a job since she was 16, sometimes had two shows in rehearsal and still had top grades. She chose the school she felt could best prepare her, knowing that it would require loans, a work-study job and other employment. In her final year, she still has her work-study, has 2 retail management jobs, has a paid church gig (and required rehearsals) and also has a few private voice students, all while staying at the top of her class and being nominated for two international awards. My point is that a student choosing the path that is taking them towards a career where they have to make their own opportunities and where they are judged subjectively must show initiative and drive in order to succeed.
Has your nephew had any experience in the film industry? Has he sought out chances to work locally? There are many good programs at community colleges where he could get his feet wet and see if hew willing to do what it takes. I would never, ever spend a ton of money at a school which doesn't require some academic courses- he'll need that should he change mid-stream and transfer to another field or want to go to grad school. A school such as the one he is looking at should require and guarantee placement at at least 2 internships while in college- if not, run. For comparison, look at the film schools at USC, NYU, RIT, Northwestern,.etc. Those are reputable programs with long histories and their graduates do well. Without contacts in such a field- and those are made during internships- you can be the best there is and never have your work considered by anyone at a major studio ( or even most minor ones with a budget!).
This young man needs a good, solid, year of full time work under his belt and he needs to come up with a list of at least 5 schools to consider and have done the research on all of them to compare and contrast and visited them if at all possible. This is standard procedure for anyone considering applying to college and kids gain valuable skills from proceeding in an orderly fashion- perhaps his former HS guidance counselor might be willing to offer him some help?

Well said. I would really require him to show me that he was serious with a real effort to come up with some money before I cosigned anything.

Here's one more option for him: SCAD > The University for Creative Careers Savannah College of Art and Design is pretty reputable and has been around for a while. It can be competitive to get in, but that might also be a good thing no?

[Carousel96]

Doesn't UCF have similar programs? Would he be interested in looking there?
It would offer him the same "away-from-mom experience" but offer options for other programs if he realizes that he picked a wrong major.

That said, my niece went to UCF and there was a lot of inexpensive/student housing in the Orlando suburban area. I think she lived in Winter Park after she graduated.

[coffeechef]

I think many folks here have given you some good ideas to pass on to your nephew in order for him to reach his goal. I hope he up to the hard work it will take on his part.
I am not sure that I would be willing to co sign for anything at this point, unless I was willing to have to pay back those loans myself. For me, I would have to see my nephew actually putting himslef through school and then help him out financially where I could. Maybe I am just too sceptical of a person to outright believe anyone is soo talented that they do not need to work for what they want. WHere are his parents in all this.?
Good Luck with your decision. I know you must love your nephew very much, if you are wanting to help him with his future.