<p>I've gotten accepted into better out-of-state colleges than in-state colleges and my family dissapproves of me leaving locality. Here are the colleges I've been in debate with:</p>
<p>U of I @ Chicago - IS
Northern Illinois U. IS
University of Missouri- OOS
University of Iowa- OOS</p>
<p>I know that finances aren't the issue. I just find my family all trying to convince me to go to either UIC or NIU even though I feel I could reach a higher potential in the OOS schools. Nobody approves of me going OOS even though they have better programs, opportunities, ect...
Most of my cousins go to UIC and for some reason my parents think that that is a valid reason in why I must go there. On top of it all, I find the inner city life very overwhelming. I always just can't wait just to go home whenever I'm in Chicago.</p>
<p>Sorry to ramble on, but I could really use some help or advice. Also, which university do you think would benefit a CS major the most?</p>
<p>If you have explored each campus and made a decision, then just explain to your parents why you have made the choice.</p>
<p>Also, don’t be sure that finances aren’t the issue. Do figure out your family’s finances as the cost difference can be quite substantial.</p>
<p>What specific reasons do you have to support your claim that you would reach a “higher potential” at the OOS schools? And why do you think they would better for CS?
The cost difference between your state and Iowa is 10 or 11 K per year so over 40-45 K total. That’s lot of money. I’d pay that difference to go to MIT or CMU, but not Missouri or Iowa (no offense to those schools).
You sound like someone who just wants to go away.</p>
<p>
I have to take some issue with this statement. Unless the OP has the funds to attend college on his own then it’s not just the student’s decision.</p>
<p>Try running the numbers, and some of the non-numeric factors here:
[FinAid</a> | Calculators | Advanced Award Letter Comparison Tool](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid)</p>
<p>Perhaps when you and your parents can compare these institutions side-by-side it will be easier to come to an agreement about your best options.</p>
<p>I suggest that you look carefully at their programs (majors, specialties) and find a substantial program that your IS doesn’t offer or where it’s weak. Nothing wrong with wanting to get away to mature, but if you’re rejecting their college it can become emotional. You can’t win an emotional fight, so ground yours in reason.</p>
<p>I know that finances aren’t the issue</p>
<p>How do you know that? Have your parents said that they are willing to pay $35k+ per year for you to attend college? If not, how do you know that finances aren’t an issue? Even if you know that your family has a good income, that doesn’t mean that they’re able to pay that much. They may have a high mortgage, other bills, or need to save for retirement. </p>
<p>On the other hand, when parents don’t want their kids to go far away, if money isn’t the issue, then often maturity is the issue. If that is the issue here, then you need to demonstrate to your parents that you can take care of yourself. That means: doing home chores without being asked, doing your own laundry, waking up on your own, going to bed at a responsible hour on your own, doing extra chores without being asked, knowing where your things are, not leaving messes for others to clean up, keeping your bedroom and bathroom clean, etc.</p>
<p>Sorry, I should have clarified on that. I’ve been working for three years and most of my earnings go directly into savings to be able to help me when my college decision came; I have about 50k saved. Also, I come from a single family income household, so I could imagine financial aid could also help me a lot on top of loans, grants, and merit scholarships. On top of it all, my parents also have a college fund of their own. I’ve done my research, and I’m pretty confident that wherever I go, my parents will not be unreasonably penalized financially.</p>
<p>Finances aside, I also believe that my parents trust me in regards to maturity and self-reliance. My best guess is that they fear I might fall into bad habits or become distant from our tight-knit family. </p>
<p>I just feel that the more important question is which university will I gain the best education from? Which university will help me have the best tools to be confident in my abilities in a career setting? Also, which university would I have a better experience at… sure it sounds like I just want to “go away” but do I really want to live in a place where I feel overwhelmed, unhappy, and unsafe?</p>
<p>University of Illinois at Chicago is an excellent educational opportunity. Truly. The hiring authorities in the metropolitan area think very highly of the grads. You would do very well going there, and it is no worse, and better in some areas of study, than either Mizzou or Iowa.</p>
<p>Good luck to you.</p>
<p>Sounds like you had a very good job to have saved close to 50k and you sound responsible. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, when you have that much money saved in your own name, the colleges expect to collect all of it plus whatever your parents are supposed to be able to contribute. The colleges also give you loans that need to be repaid when they call it FA since these are all state schools.</p>
<p>You really should work the numbers for each school and determine the costs. If you get one of those scholarships from Mizzou that make your tuition equal to instate, you may have more support at home.</p>
<p>You and your parents should complete FAFSA if you have not already done so to see what colleges may expect you to contribute at a minimum.</p>
<p>I looked on the NRC survey of Computer Science Departments with PhD programs. </p>
<p>UIC is the only one of the 4 even mentioned. The benefit for undergrads is that there is noteworthy research going on. </p>
<p>Why do you think the OOS programs are better?</p>
<p>Now if you were talking Iowa State, that’s a horse of another color. But Iowa wasn’t on there.</p>
<p>It doesn’t sound like you’d qualify for much aid with that much in student savings. Your savings alone would increase your EFC by at least $10k…beyond qualifying for grants from those OOS schools.</p>
<p>Have you ran the Net Price Calculators on each school’s website?</p>
<p>*Also, I come from a single family income household, *</p>
<p>Having only one working parent does not mean that you’d get more aid.</p>
<p>These are all schools in middle America that are pretty much comparable. Just pick the cheapest one to go to. No one is going to raise their eye brows at someone going to one of these schools over the other, at least not outside of their respective regions.</p>
<p>I have been looking around for any benefit of a “single income family” in obtaining financial aid in the past months. All I found is that there is no such thing. It is the total household income that matters.</p>
<p>Before you take the amount for granted, run the NPC and see what the schools will expect of you. Students OOS generally get very little aid beyond federal loans (and Pell grants if you have a EFC of zero, which I would not expect), so you need the run the numbers and be sure before you assume based on general circumstance that your family will be all right. There are not as many scholarships and grants as you think, especially for an OOS public.</p>