<p>I don’t know your personal situation, but I tell everyone they need to be firm with their families.</p>
<p>This is a huge part of your life, and YOU are the one who has to live through those years. If you personally feel like Cornell, and NOT UMD is the better choice for you, you need to be firm in your communication of that.</p>
<p>In the end, if your family is in a bad situation financially, you will qualify for financial aid. And if there is still a discrepancy between the costs of the schools, a few thousand dollars in loans are not too much of a pain to pay back in the end.</p>
<p>Your dad is obviously emotional, most likely for many reasons: financial worries, the realization that you are going away to college, the want to keep you nearby, the worries about your future. Reassure him that when it comes to engineering, there is not much better than Cornell. Once you go here, as long as you can stay afloat, every door is opened for you. We have numerous career resources, internship postings, resume workshops, Great faculty who provide amazing recommendations, Knowledgeable peers, challenging and uplifting courses, a commitment to academic excellence, a fun atmosphere, a general sense of camaraderie, a beautiful locale.</p>
<p>Do not fret, and do not feel so stressed about all of this. But it is time for you to step up to the plate, ballast your courage, and tell your dad like it is.</p>
<p>I hope this helps you :)</p>