Sorry, I don’t have enough knowledge on this subject to make any meaningful comments. MACmiracle and others have already and may be able to offer more.
“Literally” nothing else to do? Really? Either Gainesville has changed a lot since I was last there, or you don’t know what the context of the word “literally” means, when used properly.
Oh please…it’s not like you will have all of L.A. at your fingertips as a student. USC is a college. UF is a college. Both have terrific college things going on, and provide excellent college educations.
I’m sorry, but it’s not worth having your parents spend almost ALL of their take home pay (if their income is $120,000 and USC uses their higher 2015 income…or even 2016 income to calculate your aid) to pay YOUR college costs.
You have remarkable tunnel vision. USC is an excellent school,…but UF is a very strong flagship university with excellent programs…at about 1/2 the cost.
Like I said…if you haven’t gained anything from UF…this is YOUR fault…not the school’s.
@BelknapPoint UF is consistently ranked in the top 5 schools of most beer drinking for a reason: you can’t do anything else. This is why most of the top party schools are located in remote places. Trust me, there is nothing else to do. I don’t have anything against that, in fact its fun, but after a while it gets repetitive. I like variety.
Oh poppycock. UF has thousands of students…and I’m sure there are plenty who don’t drink beer day in and day out. And plenty of activities to join…and things to do.
And really…how do you KNOW that drinking isn’t the case at USC? Because…you know…students there drink and party too.
@thumper1 yea I know they also do that at USC, but at least I also have the option of exploring a city and meeting people from all over the world and not be in the middle of nowhere. People at UF were really nice, but when u have lived all over the world like I have, u start to want more diversity. Being in a city will also prepare me better for the real world. I just submitted my appeal with evidence and documenation, Im hoping for the best.
Your inability to think reasonably and rationally, and to convey honest and accurate information in your posts here, leads me to question whether any advice given to you will make one iota of difference in your situation.
Only a shallow person with zero imagination would seriously believe that the only thing for a UF student to do on a weekend is consume alcohol and get inebriated.
@BelknapPoint u take things too literally. Sure, u can go to krispy kreme one day or subway. But if u completely make alcohol disappear from UF, most kids would be bored out of their minds. How I’m I being unreasonable? What Im stating are facts. And I am aware of my financial situation and appreciate all the input and I will take it into consideration. But people r now saying that UF and USC are equal academically, which is false.
Really? This is from a post you made earlier today:
Do you see the issue?
Is it really a fact that you can’t do anything else on the weekend at UF but drink alcohol? You said this was the case. Is this how you spend your weekends at UF?
@BelknapPoint other than playing sports (which I don’t count as a social activity cause u barely interact), drinking alcohol was the only way I could have fun there. Almost nobody I knew did not drink.
Wow. Just wow. UF is a fine university graduating students who go on to do great things. Focus on being one of them.
You can not afford USC and there is no incremental value anyway, certainly not $30,000+ more value. Your parents should tell you a flat out no, since you will absolutely not be able to get enough in student debt to fund USC. Be mature about this.
Find something else to do with your free time, such as creating something else for you and your drinking buddies to do. Find a Habitat for Humanity or a shelter that needs some bored but able-bodied people to help. Build or engineer something. You start it and lead it. A project will fill your time and help your resume at the same time.
What about academics on weekends, projects, work, hanging with some more serious engineering wannabes???
What do you really know about USC, its neighborhood and opps over and above what UF has? You planning on going to Rodeo Drive or movie screenings?
This is silly. You want what you want and will protest that UF isn’t it, ad infinitim. That’s not goung to help you one step in LA. You’ll drink on weekends, waste time, just the same. Because what’s key is the individual, not the zip code. You’re not using what’s available now.
Read our lips: there is no magic fairy dust. This is on you.
I will be direct with you and say that you lack imagination and initiative. I know that what you have posted here only offers us a small glimpse of the kind of person you are. But I will continue to be direct in saying that through your posts you appear to lack maturity, which is accompanied by a strong sense of entitlement and ability to whine. My goal in making these comments is not to offend you, but hopefully to encourage you to take a look at the bigger picture. So much of how we make it through day-to-day life is determined by our attitude. You have complete control over your own attitude; nobody else can dictate that to you. If you believe that your life sucks, no matter what the real facts are, then your life is going to suck. Changing your attitude to a more positive disposition is not often easy, but the rewards of doing so can be tremendous. The payoff here is huge. If you think you need help in making that change, seek out the help. I sincerely wish you the best going forward.
P.S. Playing sports can be an amazing social activity, given the right attitude.
@TQfromtheU @lookingforward first of all, I don’t always spend my time drinking on weekends. Sure, I sometimes have fun, but I nearly scored a 4.0 taking core engineering classes and thats one of the reasons I got into USC in the first place. I also have an internship this summer and its only my first year. So if u are implying that I lack ambition and determination, thats incorrect. Trust me, I take advantage of every opportunity I get. I know UF is a great school, but USC is just a better fit for me personally. Thats y I am appealing my financial aid in order to make it happen.
@BelknapPoint I don’t know how simply observing my surroundings and stating my opinion makes me immature. I realize I am constrained financially, but if Im unhappy I don’t know y I should settle and be a victim to a broken system.
Greenpotatoe, I want to warn you that it is possible that your parents have significant assets.
I worked abroad and many of my friends did. We all made and saved a lot. I don’t know anyone who didn’t. Salaries were high, expenses low, and savings just accumulated.
We also had to save because there was no job security.
So I would be surprised if your parents don’t have any assets, even if they don’t talk about it.
If this is the case, any financial aid will be limited.
We are going through this right now in my D’s college search. We have an income that would entitle my kids to excellent financial aid at any meets-100%-of-need college, but the unprotected assets from working abroad make those schools unaffordable.
Your parents will need to be cautious with whatever savings they have because if they have earned much of their lifetime income abroad, they probably have not been contributing to social security. They probably don’t have a pension or the other typical employment related retirement accounts. And they are getting older, which can affect job prospects.
They have to carefully safeguard their retirement as they get you and your siblings through college. Please keep that in mind and don’t blame them for being clear about what they will pay for your college.
I know I’m reading a lot into your situation, but it’s something to consider.