<p>I know other internet-based appeals for money have raised quite a bit. I wonder how this will pan out.</p>
<p>Did you read her essay? Pretty crap*y, if you ask me.</p>
<p>"piers" instead of "peers?!"</p>
<p>"Downs syndrome" instead of "Down syndrome?"</p>
<p>I stopped reading right there.</p>
<p>Yeah, I really want to go to Drexel. And, with family circumstances, I might not be able to afford it. I just don't think I could web-beg.</p>
<p>When I heard about that, I secretly hoped no one would respond to her begging.</p>
<p>As a Michigander, I must admit I've been wondering why this student wouldn't be interested in attending a state university, since we are blessed with so many excellent options at very reasonable in-state prices and aid packages. At the same time, as a parent of a senior faced with future financing, I did consider encouraging my son to write a funny song about higher education financing (think sappy-country-song-truck-broken-dog-dead) and some rap study-songs for course memorization and sell them online virally to garner some college cash. Kind of the modern day equivalent of singing for his supper : )
(Said kid instead sold himself (to write a song) at the school auction and donated the proceeds to same. Clearly I have not taught him charity starts at home, but at least his heart's in the right place : )</p>
<p>I am from MI - and ND is NOT the same as any MI school. I can understand why she wants to go there. I just can't get into the whole begging thing.</p>
<p>Kelsmom - True, although my knowledge of ND is pretty much limited to having an old school mate who is now a prof there and a father who was "fighting irish" (in terms of football) all the way : ) But IF SHE CAN'T AFFORD IT (and at this point, she's not accepted, from what I can tell, so I doubt she'll be a high admit/scholarship candidate but don't truly have a clue how their admission process works...) I don't think U of Mich is anything to sneeze at. Both rank in the teens (ND) and 20s (UMich) at places such as US News (for what its worth). I realize there is the public/private difference, the size difference, the faith community, and a selectivity index difference. That said, if I were U of M, I might consider rescinding the offer of admission.</p>
<p>The following is a comment posted on the Detroit Free Press site that resonates with me:</p>
<p>"A bit of advice from the mother of another "outstanding " student who chose UM engineering over all other schools to which he was accepted. For an in state student, UM offers an unparalleled education for the price. The number of scholarships awarded to engineering students can pay your way for four years, freeing up some cash for your medical school tuition. The research opportunities at UM are numerous, exciting and lucrative. UM engineering is a world class institution. In these tough economic times, it is foolish to spend 50K plus per year for an undergraduate degree when excellence is right in your backyard. "</p>
<p>I guess I'm sounding state-protectionist. But aside from kind of demeaning our state flagship in a public forum, the case just hits me as poor judgement on a couple of fronts: First, she hadn't (or hasn't) been accepted when sending the site live. Just because you have a 3.97 doesn't guarantee admission at a highly selective school Secondly, there's no transparency - we have no idea what kind of package she might receive...nor will it be easy for ND fin aid to determine what she'd actually be eligible for without a lot of auditing (at least of the paypal). Thirdly -- it just hits me a both telling and worrying (in terms of the character of our young) to compare public begging for individual and luxurious wants to Obamba's attempt to create the possibility of a unified community in a public forum designed to foster transparency. So if, as the article states, she got the idea from Obama, then she has not sufficiently applied her analytical skills to assessing the meaning and aims of the Obama web campaign.
Her way serves and benefits a population of one.
His serves a nation. </p>
<p>Cheers,
K</p>
<p>Very well said. I actually would be a bit surprised if she does get into ND after this. The students I know who were accepted to ND are very different from this young lady - I can't imagine them even thinking of such a stunt, much less actually carrying it out - especially without an acceptance to back it up.</p>
<p>As for UMich, I realize it's a very good school - just not my cup of tea - and no, I'm not a State fan! :)</p>
<p>More power to her. I would never respond to web-based begging, especially for what is essentially a luxury item, but I'm sure some amount of money will come her way; especially with all the media publicity. I admire her entrepreneurial spirit, much like that young Girl Scout who was forced to pull her YouTube sales pitch this week. Can't imagine ND rescinding her acceptance (should it be forthcoming). What business is it of their's where her tuition money comes from? </p>
<p>Since ND does not award merit money, it would be interesting to see how they would treat this income as regards her "need". I don't believe that ND is very generous with need-based financial aid. Families have to be creative to afford that level of college cost.</p>
<p>If it were my child, I'd rather see him at UMich as an in state student, than at ND. And that comes from an ND alum married to an ND alum and daughter-in-law of an ND alum.</p>