<p>my parents have been telling me that they dont want to pay for college; I understand that, as college can get expensive. But they have basically told me that if I got into harvard and a community college, they would send me to the community college since it would be cheaper. I have been trying to convince them that going to a better college that may cost a little bit would be better for future career opportunities, especially since I want to go into the science field.
Do any of you know anyone who has gotten specific opportunities because they went to better schools? Thanks for responses in advance.</p>
<p>Community colleges aren’t all bad. They’re a great way to save some money while completing your lower level classes. There is always the option of transferring to a better school after a couple years too. </p>
<p>I’m in a CC right now, and I’m a physics major…by the time I’m done here, I’ll have saved roughly $30,000 versus going to a state university. That’s a substantial difference. In the end, you’ll still be getting a degree from whatever school you transfer to.</p>
<p>Cg…</p>
<p>If you have the stats for an ivy school, the you likely have the stats to get a huge scholarship at some college.</p>
<p>Also, are you low income or what?</p>
<p>What are your stats? What state are you in? What is your major/career interests?</p>
<p>Depending on your stats, it may be possible for a 4-year college to be less expensive than a community college. There are other situations where it may be a better idea to attend a 4-year school even if it’s slightly more expensive, but it’s hard to tell without additional information as mentioned by m2ck in the above post.</p>
<p>First of all, let’s cross this bridge when you get to it. Instead of arguing with your parents, and making this a power struggle, step back and start to slowly educate them. Become knowledgeable about the financial aid that Harvard gives, which is much better than most colleges, and share this with your parents. Then attain the best grades you can, apply to reaches, matches, and safeties, and see where the chips fall when the acceptances roll in.</p>
<p>If you have a realistic chance of getting into a super-selective school, you probably can get one of the <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-17.html#post15743177[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-17.html#post15743177</a> and compete for competitive full ride scholarships at other schools (e.g. NCSU, UNC-CH, Duke, Georgia Tech, Rutgers if NJ resident, etc.).</p>
<p>Community college is not necessarily a bad option, although it depends on the student, and transfer options are primarily state universities, and merit scholarships tend to be more limited for transfer students.</p>
<p>Are your parents wealthy or not? If they are middle or lower income, it is likely that some of the super-selective schools will offer generous need-based financial aid to you. However, if they are wealthy enough that need-based financial aid will expect a high expected family contribution that they are unwilling to pay, then you need to look for schools with large merit scholarships.</p>
<p>My family is somewhere between middle and upper-middle class i think. Basically we are right around the range were most schools dont give out a lot of financial aid, but we dont make enough to pay for college on our own.
As for my stats, i will likely be in my schools top 10, possibly be valedictorian. I took the sat in march and got a 2220, but i’m retaking just to see if i can do better. I have some good extracurriculars as well, including doing independent research that has gotten a few awards. I am looking into either molecular biology or a chemistry major most likely, and would like to go into academia and research.
I’m just worried that if i end up at a lower ranked college, even if its a good one, the jobs i am looking for will generally take the applicants who went to more “prestigious” colleges. I would be fine with going to either a higher or lower ranked college as long as i knew i would be able to get a good job when i came out of college. Thanks for all your responses</p>
<p>The “jobs” that you’re going to get are going to likely require a GRAD degree, so just go to a good undergrad, then go to grad school. </p>
<p>“Academia” and “research” don’t usually hire people with just a BS degree.</p>
<p>Anyway, you don’t really have a choice. You can’t borrow to go where you want. You need to work with your situation. You have the stats to get good scholarships at good schools.</p>
<p>I suggest that you work a LOT this summer (and future summers) and set that money aside for college. Then go to the best college you can that will give you the most merit money. </p>
<p>Are your parents saying that they won’t give you one cent? Will they pay for ANYTHING?</p>
<p>My parents haven’t really given me a start answer as to what they will help me pay for exactly…every time I ask them they given me vague answers that make it really hard to plan where I should be going to college. I guess I should start looking into good schools with scholarship programs, thanks for your help guys.</p>
<p>[FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://Www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://Www.finaid.org) is your friend. So is the Financial Aid Forum. Spend time in both places to learn more about this issue.</p>
<p>Every college and university website has a Net Price Calculator. Sit down with your parents and run a few of these. Hand them tissues and adult beverages if necessary. Then point them to the Financial Aid Forum too. Lots of us have been through this. We can help them sort things out.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>