Will, I'm not sure what you're planning on studying, but you could also look at doing 2 years at something cheap and then transferring for a specific program. If that's an option, anyways.
Also, keep this in mind: Everything will work itself out.
Also, if you feel like reading...
My college story
While in high school, I learned about something called the A+ program. Simply put, you were required to do 50 hours of tutoring (and maintain a certain GPA and attendance rate) over 4 years of high school and upon completing the program, you could go to a community college for 2 years for free. This was my ultimate fallback if nothing else worked out - and until February of 2010, was looking like I was heading there. I didn't know what I wanted to study and major in, and my reasoning was "Why go somewhere if what I want to do they don't offer/aren't certified/whatever else?" So I had issues with actually wanting to apply anywhere.
Backing up a bit, during my junior year, my history professor talked about this History Bowl and that they were putting a team together. I volunteered (I do know SOME history...kinda) as the third person if nobody else offered because the other 2 guys who wanted to do it were really interested in history. So I went with them, we won (mainly due to them) and each got a 10k scholarship to that school.
Back to around February 2010...since I had the 10k scholarship, I went ahead and applied to that school. Based on my ACT score (29), grades, and that scholarship, they gave me an offer of about 10k per year (40k total). Since that was about half the tuition and would pay for approximately 2 years, and allowed me to get away from parents, I decided to go for it (my student loan was going to be about 5k each year).
I took the ACT again in June just to see if I could get any more money. For whatever reason, it felt really easy - I scored a 33 on it. The school adjusted the financial aid based on my score and increased it to about a full ride (I have a 2.5k loan for books, extra fees and whatnot to cover the unexpected).
I came to this school, started volunteering in the TV studio because it sounded interesting and became a Mass Communications (with TV emphasis) and Digital Cinema Arts double major.
I've made a ton of friends, had a lot of fun experiences and I'm glad that everything worked out how it did. I even met my amazing girlfriend because I came here (her best friend goes here as well).
So, because I came to Lindenwood, I've fallen in love, figured out what I want to do, and am enjoying life a lot more. The reason I ended up here? Because I didn't know what I wanted to do. Because my history professor found out about this history bowl and wanted to put a team together for it. Because for some reason I enjoyed academics and was willing to help other people. Because my parents raised me well and they decided to live in this district. Etc etc.
Simply put, everything will work itself out. I know there's this huge emphasis on college and everything, but just relax and enjoy life as it happens.
