Asking strangers for money... good/bad?

Paying for College
1

<p>Okay, so I have submitted my SIR and Housing for UCLA and my SIR for USC (I was spring admit, so no fee yet...)</p>

<p>Anyways, as a future business major, I would LOVE to go to USC, however, special family circumstances (dad is terminally ill) and the fact that we are middle-class America, I received a very poor aid package from USC (3000 grant for 1/2 year, and the rest is loans and personal payments). </p>

<p>I live next to a city that is one of the top feeders to USC, something like over 35 go there each year, with this year expected to be around 45. Anyways, there is a 2x2 mile area of the city that is EXTREMELY RICH, houses STARTING at 1.5 million, with the average around 5.5. I drive by the beautiful homes, and as I gaze at the license plates of the Bentley's, Mercedes, BMW's, and Lexus', I see one large theme, USC ALUMNI plate covers!</p>

<p>Now, since I can't afford USC, I had the idea of printing out a sheet with my contact info, explaining my circumstances, and basically ask complete strangers (USC alumni), for money.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any opinions on this idea? I am 100% serious and fully committed to this endeavor, I will, honestly, go to the homes in this area with 500 copies of my plea, and place them in the mailboxes, and then pray somebody takes this as serious as I do.</p>

2

<p>Go for it. There is no law binding you from doing so, or at least I think there is no law… :]</p>

<p>Good for you if you have the determination and gall to proceed with your endeavor. Good luck also.</p>

3

<p>Just realize that the kind of gift you’re asking for would most likely come with strings attached. Anyone who contributes will feel that they have a stake in you. They’ll expect you to email/write regularly and to visit them in person occasionally. They’ll expect the correct level of gratitude, for many years after you graduate. They may expect to have some input in your educational choices, and may want the right to hold you accountable for academic performance. Are you ready for all of that?</p>

4

<p>Wealthy people have people asking them for money daily. USC alum are hit up by USC for donations to all sorts of programs including student scholarships. Relatives, friends and employees are in need. Why would they want to give money to a stranger when there are many safe guarded ways to share their wealth and people already in their lives in need?</p>

<p>While you never know, chances are remote.</p>

5

<p>Bad idea, IMO. Low chance of success.</p>

<p>Initials of the city LC?</p>

6

<p>USC has already made a determination that 100% of your need has been met by its financial aid package. If you still can’t afford to go something is out of whack. You might get a better result by asking USC to reconsider your FA application, making sure they know everything and asking for professional judgement.</p>

<p>The alums you are thinking of soliciting already give money to USC, and they know USC then gives money to students like you so you can afford to go. The alums are unlikely to believe the system is broken in your case justifying direct alum–>you aid.</p>

7

<p>Actually, it IS illegal to put anything in mailboxes that has not had postage paid and the USPS takes this rather seriously! You can be fined for each separate offense…that’s why the newspaper carriers have separate tubes. Also, many communities have non-solicitation statutes that would bar this kind of activity. </p>

<p>Perhaps a local newspaper would be interested in relating your story or you could take it online. I believe there’s an east coast kid doing something with an email network to raise money for JHU tuition… </p>

<p>So sorry to hear about your dad. Best wishes for all of you.</p>

8

<p>There is a girl – Rachel something – who started a website asking for donations to attend
Notre Dame even before being admitted.</p>

<p>Nothing ventured, nothing gained.</p>

9

<p>So sorry about your dad. If you haven’t already explained your special circumstances to the USC FA office, I would strongly suggest that you make an appointment to sit down with someone there. If you have documentation of the family’s med expenses and financial challenges that you face, it would be good to take this info with you. Also, I don’t know how this works or if these scholarships go to freshmen, but I believe that some regional USC alumni groups do offer some scholarship funding. You might want to locate your local alumni group and see if you can talk to someone there about whether they do help local students or if they have any suggestions for you. Good luck!</p>

10

<p>It sounds really reckless [and risky nonetheless] but maybe it will work. I hope you get another better way of getting money.</p>

11

<p>They say that cold calling has a low return rate. You do need to do things legally if you do this. But I have seen some wild schemes pan out, so if you can come up with something safe and legal, go for it. But be aware of what the legalities and ramifications of what you do.</p>

12

<p>The OP has an EFC of some $ 40,000 according to his posts elsewhere. And since USC is a Profile school they look at assets that FAFSA does not, the USC calculated EFC might be higher. No wonder, you didn’t get aid. But that number should have been included in OP’s post to complete the picture.</p>

<p>Profile schools do re-examine FA if and when family circumstances change. </p>

<p>Beyond the OP though, it is hard to be sympathetic to kids with his level of EFC seeking sympathy from strangers when families with EFC’s=0 are struggling with difficult choices (for equally high achieving kids).</p>

13

<p>It’s hard to sympathize with me? You know the system fails when the majority of Americans, middle class america, aren’t poor enough to get money and aren’t rich enough to just write a check.</p>

14

<p>Here we go again. Middle class. Everyone thinks they’re middle class.</p>

15

<p>binks09: I am trying not to personalize my comments. In general, I find it very difficult to sympathize with ANYONE with an EFC of $ 40 K (or higher in USC’s finding) when there are thousand of others struggling with EFC=0 or are Pell eligible (equally highly achieving kids)</p>

<p>But since you posed a point-blank question: “It’s hard to sympathize with me? You know the system fails when the majority of Americans, middle class america, aren’t poor enough to get money and aren’t rich enough to just write a check” , </p>

<p>let me say directly: You appear entitled. </p>

<p>Reading your postings on your earlier thread:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/678951-how-hell-can-i-afford-sc.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-southern-california/678951-how-hell-can-i-afford-sc.html&lt;/a&gt;, and this one .</p>

<p>You want to ask Govt, people of California, USC and even perfect strangers (anyone but your family and you) to help YOU go to USC when there are alternatives like UCLA and a CC transfer route available to you. Based on a complete reading of both threads, yes, it is very hard to sympathize with you. The best place for you to find an empathetic hearing would be USC. I am sure you appealed. If you had a case, I am sure they would help you.</p>

16

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<p>OK, so let’s pretend that instead of talking about a college here you’re talking about a Mercedes or a mansion in Beverley Hills. Would it still make sense to you?</p>

<p>College is just another consumer product in this Country, most can afford some but not all. Somehow kids and even parents get the idea that money should not be a factor in where they go to college yet they accept that no one will subsidize other luxury wants.</p>

17

<p>If the OP can find someone to financially help him, fine for him. It is going to be one heck of an elusive needle in a haystack, however. THere was a family looking for someone to sponsor their kid’s name, I remember, and they found it. Kid’s name was Zane, I remember. Maybe he will strike gold.</p>

<p>However, unless you have one heck of an idea, you’ll do better looking for lots of work this summer. You are young. Time to double, triple shift and get some money. You can make $10K this summer, maybe more if you do that, and it is sure money. Then try to get you and your family to cut down moneywise, and put the savings away as you realize it. Most of us do have fat to spare, and that can come up to several thousand dollars.</p>