Hi everyone,

I will be attending college this fall for my bachelors. I got a scholarship and the total amount that I have to pay out of my pocket(after deducting the scholarship) is 11k which includes tuition, living (on campus), board, books and medical insurance.

I am assuming I can pay this off by:

1.       On campus work- 4k

2.       Summer on-campus work- 3k

3.       Parents contribution-2k ( my parents can pay more)

4.       Live off campus- save 2k

 How practical are my assumptions?

Thank you all for your response especially to justcurious for that wonderful post. it sure was alot of help to me. i have one question- i am allowed to stay off campus in the first year also. From your experiences, do you think i should stay off campus and save money or is living on campus during the first year worth the money taking into account friendships, loneliness, homesickness, culture shock?

Pinpoint bhai, it's hard to say whether staying on-campus is better than staying off-campus or not. It's a subjective issue; I personally preferred staying off-campus because the college I attended was in a small town and living on-campus would have cost me double the amount that I spent living off-campus. The story might be different if you are attending a college in lets say Chicago. In big cities, the expenses might not be different by much. The question of being homesick, lonely etc again is very subjective. I didn't have to face these issues. I stayed on-campus for 1 semester and I must say that I enjoyed it a lot. It's easier to make friends and blend into the new culture if you stay on-campus (going to frat parties was the best part). However, I think your decision should be based on how much premium you are prepared to pay for these benefits.

Dhanayabad justcurious.

Can somebody advise me on how much expenses should i assume regarding cell phone bills? Also, what other costs to expect besides tuition, apartment, food, cell phone, books, medical insurance, summer expenses? I wont be needing a car.

Some people tell me i cant get a work permit in my first semester because according to legal procedures, i have to stay in the US for at least a year to be eligible for work permit. Is this true?

Lastly, why are jobs on campus less during the summer as compared to other times?  

i just want you to consider some of the facts in your assumptions.. first of all there is no bullet proof assumption about America or anywhere. so you should have some contengency plan , like can your parents send some more money in case of emergency without selling the pakho bari? no sacrasm meant.. a) going to OC does not mean jobs are guranteed. Lots of students can't find jobs for months and go back to their colleges. some are lucky like the dude above to make 12,500 in the summer. 12,500 making is very unusual and needs extereme luck and networking. if you work 85 hours a week, in 3 months, you need to be paid $12.25 an hour. It may be possible if you have a work permit or have been going to OC years after years, have friends, networkig etc to hook you up etc.. most students make around 7 -8 bucks an hour and find work around 50 hours, and thats considered lucky. b) the work permit we are talking about is economic hardship, which you maybe able to get after 2 semesters. i don't know about your school, but lots of international student advisors do not give your permission to file for it, although they have no reason to hold you. i know lots of Nepali students who would like to apply bu tthe international student advisors are jerks and would not let them file..even if you file there is no gurantee to get one, there are chances you may not get it, or you may not be able to renew it after a year, as it expires iin a year and costs about 380 to file..  i was lucky when i was student, i applied and renewed it twice too.. c) with job market like the way it is in the usa, oncampus jobs are extermly hard to find, and you can't depend on off campus jobs either.. dhoti employers are happy to hire dv winners and refugees for the same amount per hour as they would pay an international student, so why take risk... i advise going to states such as texas, boston, Mn , Idaho because of scholorships and instate tution after sometimes... so have some contigency plan, again your assessement is good and i'm glad your planning but just as anything , things might not go as planned...