Ask Kari: Should I go to college next year or wait until I have more money saved up?
Dear Kari,
I am graduating this year from high school and I picked my college for next year, University of Washington. The problem is my parents have told me that they only have enough money to pay for one year of my schooling. I will be the first person from my family to go to college, but I am scared that I will get my dream of attending college and then lose it. Do you think I should go to college next year or wait until I have all the money saved up a few years from now?--College Dreamer
Dear College Dreamer,
Congratulations on being accepted to a wonderful school. Congratulations on also being the first person in your family to attend college, what a great accomplishment. I recommend that you stay on track to begin school next fall as planned. I also recommend that you make an appointment with the financial aid office at UW and immediately begin to look into extra support from them in organizing your studies at their school; look into scholarships, student employment opportunities on campus, and any subsidized support from UW for college based on your grades and being a first-generation student. You can do this, set your mind to it, then plan, plan, plan, and work, work, work. I wish you absolute success!
–Kari
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About Kari: Dr. O’Neill is a Doctor of Social Work, and a board-certified licensed independent clinical social worker. Dr. O’Neill completed her undergraduate and graduate education at the University of Washington and her doctorate at Tulane University, and currently serves as an affiliated medical staff member at Swedish Hospital Issaquah.