<p>Hey, you might consider Cornell Tradition. It's about 4K per year, plus, for one summer, they'll pay you up to $3K (and $2K in expenses like living, traveling) to do internship or whatever that pays little or nothing. PLUS, they'll cover your expected summer savings (that's another 2 grand). I did that, and have never paid for college. This year alone (senior year) cornell is paying me over $8K to attend because I have so much $$ left over.</p>
<p>Cornell Tradition is:
at least 75 hr of community service
250 hours of work
i think 3.2 or something</p>
<p>although when I applied, I had over 200 hrs of community service and 400 hours of work (NOT an RA).</p>
<p>also, that is something to consider as well, becoming an RA after your freshman year. That's free room and 20% off board, plus you get like a couple hundred dollars.</p>
<p>The financial aid people pay attention to the numbers on the FAFSA and Profile. I doubt the fact that your dad said he "could" pay $5000 means much unless the above documents support that. Also, the financial aid offices also don't care how much your mortgage is. That is a personal choice made by your family. If your father's employer does not offer health insurance than by all means let the financial aid people know about that additional expense. That they might care about.</p>
<p>She is being obnoxious--my family only makes about 4x more with the same family size, but we pay 10x of her piddling contribution for me to go here.</p>
<p>
[quote]
She is being obnoxious--my family only makes about 4x more with the same family size, but we pay 10x of her piddling contribution for me to go here.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Um...why would you have to pay $71,800 (and $121,300 in loans) a year. You obviously don't understand money at all; if your family makes 200k a year, it's a lot easier to save 15-20% of that than it is if your making sub-50k.</p>
<p>"My dad is one of those prideful people who are like "OH, I CAN DO THIS!!" when he really can't"</p>
<p>Yep! Most people nowdays call it "being unrealistic." For those who don't know, it's actually called chivalry and magnanimity.
He's thinking "She is MY doughter. I must be able to pay for her college, not a staranger."
Sadly, one won't have a lot of so-called success in America or the modren world if s/he abides by such noble ethical standards.</p>
<p>Tell your father he has a fan on CC.</p>
<p>Your achievement is to be proud of. YOU GO GIRL!!!</p>
<p>Ok...i usually don't like getting into posts w/ heated arguments...but i have to this time...b/c this is just wrong...</p>
<p>If you don't get ANY aid at all...you should actually be HAPPY because that means that your family is well off and can afford a Cornell education! Getting Aid in my opinion is not something to be happy about...so you should support asianjewel instead of attacking her and telling her that she doesn't deserve Cornell...PPL who say this are the ones who DOESN'T deserve Cornell b/c you obviously don't even understand or maybe have not even read Cornell's Slogan: (Any person...any study)...ANY means RICH and POOR! so I don't think asianjewel is being obnoxious...I don't think asianjewel is being unreasonable...Cornell is known for giving the least amount of aid...and maybe for those w/o aid...scraping $7000 might just mean not buying 3 more purses or something...but for ppl in need, $7000 doesn't come so easily! So don't give up Asianjewel...don't listen to these ppl...you DESERVE to be at Cornell! Do what you want...I know that you can tell Cornell that your circumstances have changed and that your family cannot afford $5000 contribution...I'm sure they'll change thier decision where it is appropriate!</p>
<p>Exactly maryjulia75! And another thing people don’t seem to realize is that loans are not free money; OP’s gotta pay almost 20k a year, which is a lot to make up after you graduate. A lot of you guys criticizing the OP will be debt-free after the four years because you’re paying the tuition full (or I should say your parents are). I’m shocked at how many rude and judgmental people are on this forum.</p>
<p>what noone seems to have brought up yet is the big picture. is the OP's choice between going to Cornell or not going to college at all? or is the choice between going to Cornell and going somewhere else that is more affordable for him/her. if so, what is that second choice? one can only tell if the extra debt/work is worth it if one knows the alternatives, but $5k/yr does not sound like an insurmountable barrier, assuming you can at minimum take out more loans and will get through Cornell successfully. (wow, talk about motivation to study!) also college is a means, not just and end. one's career track is very important for this decision. not having a general idea of what that will be kind of hampers one's ability to make a good decision at this point. the conventional wisdom is that the chances of the extra money you paid to go to Cornell (as opposed to a cheaper alternative) coming back to you later in the form of increased earnings depends hugely on this. on the other hand, i seem to recall a study which concluded that here in the US, people who go to more prestigious schools (within limit. we're not comparing a community college to Harvard) tend to earn more mainly because of higher ability before they got in, not the school. in other words, if you could live life twice and had the same profession but went to different schools, you would earn about the same amount. prestige, of course, is another matter.</p>
<p>if future anticipated earnings is not large, and if the quality difference between Cornell and the OPs plan B is too large, he/she can always work for a year (at a real job - perhaps as some kind of intern). delaying college by a year is not the end of the world. it may even help - financially and in terms of knowing what you want to do. doing it the second time around you may end up with a better set of choices. you might even be able to defer attendance at Cornell for a year while maintaining a guarantee of admission. (i don't know how that works.)</p>
<p>ihaveabunni...although many people would appreciate your articulate analysis, i can't help but say that your point has been brought up in the previous posts...but in this case, I really don't think that OP made an emphasis on $5k as the barrier between her and cornell...I think OP brought up the 5k to show her regret that her father put this as family contribution...right now father cannot afford this and thus an internal family conflict arises...This person is worried and thought that he/she can use this forum for consolation. However, people seem to take her intention in the wrong way. In fact, I believe that from this person's statement, she is indeed willing to take out an extra loan (shown by her loan that totals to $60k in 4 yrs) to cover her family's portion as Cornell is definitely her first choice shown by her choice as an ED...</p>
<p>Okay so i just read the first page of this forum!!!!
If you really think that you or your family wound't be able to afford $5000/yr then you should definietely talk to Cornell Financial Aid advisor. Your financial aid package looks generous but if your family is in desperate need of money then there is no shame in asking for a readjustment.</p>