<p>centennial13 -</p>
<p>You choices look to be:</p>
<p>1) Continue to fight with your parents about the Columbia admission, and see if you can bring them around (remembering of course that they are currently shelling out something in the range of $120,000 each year for your siblings college and Med School, and whatever other financial obligations they have to other extended family members).</p>
<p>2) Accept the money and commute to a local U or CC.</p>
<p>3) Take a gap year, make some money, and reapply to colleges and universities that will throw big merit money at you. If you have the grades and test scores for Columbia, there are places that you could attend for free, or with nothing more than federal loans and a summer job.</p>
<p>Personally, if you are fed up with your parents, I’d recommend #3. Not owing them for your education will be liberating. Down the line when they “collect” on your siblings, you won’t have to feel that you “owe” your parents anything. Anything that you do for them will be because you choose to do so freely and from your heart.</p>