Full Sail's online Game Design degree costs $54,000, plus a $3,100 macbook (they call it a "launchbox"). Forget, for a minute, the macbook. The $54,000 in tuition alone is completed in only 32 months. Divide it all up, and it comes out to an average of $1,687.50 per month. Multiply that by twelve months, and you get $20,250.

Even if I get the maximum Pell Grant, that will only take out $5,050, knocking my tuition (excluding the macbook) to $15,200.

Niether my parents, nor I have the credit for a private or PLUS loan, so I must pay it all on FAFSA, or out of pocket. The banks that do Stafford loans will take out a 5% processing fee, so my maximum stafford amount of $9,500 (by not being qualified for a PLUS loan, my stafford limit will increase) will be reduced to $9,025, knocking my tuition down to $6,175. The $3,100 macbook (software included) will be $9,275.

How can I cover this by this May (when I leave my community college)? They don't want me to make payments of $773 a month; they want their money and they want it now, but even if I could make payments, how the hell am I going to pay $773 a month? As a college student, I'd be lucky if I can get a job that pays that much gross! I'm content having to pay it back with a high interest rate (not ideal, but content) if I have to, as long as I can find a private student lender that will accept my horrible credit without a cosigner!

By the way, I don't want to rely on scholarships because I have to compete with them. I also don't want to rely on getting a job because I could get laid off at any time.

I need a guarantee, and then, if I can get a scholarship or job, I can use it to PAY DOWN the loan while I'm in college, but I need some kind of a guarantee. I know my options are limited, but I only need one!

Also, let's not forget that I probably WON'T get the maximum Pell grant because my parents make too much money! This will increase my unpaid tuition even higher!