<p>Convincing my parents to let me go to boarding school has not been the easiest thing. It was my idea to go, and originally I sat them both down and showed them a two-hour powerpoint presentation on why I should go to boarding school, how it will beinifit me, etc.. But even after that my parents still see it as just one thing, me wanting to leave. They don't see the amazing things Boarding School has to offer. But the biggest issue my family has is financial aid. My family is... well we are your average family, we arent super rich, and we aren't super poor. We are just your average family. And with our annual income each year, we would be able to afford maybe 10,000 a year, and that would even be pushing it. My dad thinks that schools only give out financial aid to students who live in boxes on the side of the road. They both also think that boarding schools are all just full of rich kids whose parents are too busy to pay attention to them. If any of you could help me with this, I would really appreciate it! I want this more than anything I've ever wanted in my entire life, so your help would be really appreciated. Thanks!!</p>
<p>I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again . . . encourage your parents to come and talk to us themselves. Many of us have had (and still have!) similar concerns, so we’re happy to try to talk it out with them. All you need to do is get them to show up . . .</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Dodgersmom is right. CC would be a great place for your parents to look and see how much they have in common with many other parents. Our situation is similar to yours… we are an “average” family and our d chose this path. It has worked out fantastically. But it does sound, at this point, as if you’ve presented your case thoroughly and can only offer them tools for their own research now. Good luck!!</p>
<p>“My dad thinks that schools only give out financial aid to students who live in boxes on the side of the road.”</p>
<p>Tell your dad to play with the calculator (just one of a few available at various BS sites) from the St. Paul’s site:</p>
<p>[St</a>. Paul’s School ~ Financial Aid Estimator](<a href=“http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=114046]St”>http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=114046)</p>
<p>According to SPS’s calc, a student from a family of four with a Gross Income between $125-$150k receives an average of $42,093 in financial aid. In most parts of the country, that sort of income allows you to live in a fairly large box.</p>
<p>@7D: HHI=Household income? Are they looking at gross income or AGI?</p>
<p>The SPS site merely indicates “Gross Family Income”, does not stipulate AGI. I changed my post #4 to reflect that. </p>
<p>Is there a reason why you did not check the link first before asking that question?</p>
<p>Oh I guess I was just lazy. Thought I’d confirm the HHI anyway. Geez you are a sensitive guy! 
But I remember I’ve had this question when I was browsing similar estimator on different schools websites. Sometimes they are not clear on that.</p>
<p>@DA: You would not be the first to observe that I’m “a sensitive guy”! ;-P.</p>
<p>It’s ok, SD. <em>I</em> think you’re swell. I appreciate your insightful posts.</p>
<p>hope2dance4life, Your story is similar to my D a year ago. Boarding school was her dream and she did get in and now she is a prep. However, You asked her if boarding school is a right decision then she might not be so sure to tell. Don’t get me wrong. She still is like her school very much. but she learned a lot by experienced things herself.
We are what you said “average family” and we have 3 kids. I was very surprised she brought up boarding school idea since she was not like other “no local option” CCers. after a long discussion we let her apply but we also set a high financial aid requirement so all the kids in the family are fair to share the all resources. She got in and she got financial aid what we asked for. We let her go and fully support her decision.
She love her school but she also grew up to think things differently that I can tell from our recently conversation. It might be she met a lot of peers from different background. she met a lot of smart, talented kids and also some struggling, home sick, unhappy students who do not have 100% support from family miles and miles away, She started to think if tuition is worth. or those tuition should spend on college.</p>
<p>Talk to your parent again and understand your parent’s concern. CCer can give you information/advice. However, It will still be you and your family decision.</p>
<p>bluegene, that’s an insightful post. I have been thinking about the distance factor for a while now.</p>
<p>@bluegene, thanks, that really helps. I appreciate it. If you dont mind me asking, what school did your d decide to go to? The schools im looking at are Chatham Hall, Exeter, and Hockaday</p>
<p>It’s not a secret but I’ll send you a PM.</p>
<p>I got serveral PMs asked me the same question.</p>
<p>You probably wondered what topics we talked most in long discussion several nights before we let her apply and before the outcome.
It’s not financial issue. Once we setup a bar and my D agreed, we did not touch that issue anymore. She realized even if she got in but not enough aid. she will still stay local.
We, as the parent, brought up our real concerns that the fact she is only 14 years old. We are going to miss her games, performances, activities. We want her grow up in part of our life and our eyesight. We want her to understand family value, not just good grades and personal achievement. We told her the decision is like no way back. 4 years boarding school. 4 years college and then… Home will be like her summer vacation house from now on. I want her to know she must learn how to take care herself, respect parents and learn how to get our trust.
She pictured her career goal ,show us that this is an opportunity she can see herself in a challenge environment and promised she will eat well for every meal.</p>
<p>Half a year now as a new prep. Did she do all her promises ? Well, from the parent view, not really. However, One thing I can tell, she does not think only herself now. Her body language and the conversation with us can tell she see the world differently now - more mature and really grow up.</p>
<p>If you have similar story as my D, ask yourself if you really realize why your parent do not stand on your side. A boarding student without fully support from family and home miles away will have a very difficult 4 years. Particularly if you need financial aid, </p>
<p>I hope this will help for parent or cadidate whoever had the same issue/concern.</p>
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<p>Well said. I can tell it’s tough on my daughter, but she loves the experience. She also knows we’re fully behind her decision. </p>
<p>It is not possible to enroll in BS without parent permission. I would suggest having them talk to other parents, come here (as has been suggested) or see if you can find one that is local and ask them to go on tour with you. It is VERY hard as a parent to allow your child to fly the next four years early. Many parents anticipate the “grieving” and loss and push back. That may be what is going on with your parents. Or it may simply be that the concept is foreign, most friends and neighbors will label them bad parents, or they just worry about the money and the cultural shift.</p>
<p>If they don’t support you, it’s not the end of the world. In a worse case scenario - work to be the best possible student where you are, supplement with any local or online resource you can find, then shoot for a high ranked college. If you look at the stats - the majority of kids matriculating to those schools are not BS grads. So you’ll still have a shot.</p>