<p>Speaking from our families situation -My two sons will be attending Cornell this coming year.Both sons have been busting their butts(which I believe every student who is receiving ANY financial aid should be doing) Am I the only parent with a kid in the ivy league that has need that believes your child has an obligation to earn their way. Sons work about 30 hours per week and will work about 50 hours per week this summer to earn their expected summer earnings and have spending money for their upcoming year. Your education is a gift but not in the literal sence-Why do so many people feel they are owed something? Cornell does not owe you anything. When the day comes that you graduate Cornell I hope you will remember to send them checks so that other needy kids have the same opportunity that you have had. By the way my sons will each have loans exceeding 80.000 when they graduate. Am I concerned about that, YES,but sons are wise enough to understand that a Cornell education is worth it. For all of those parents that believe your young adult that is heading to college can't or should not be doing this(working hard) than think about whether it is you or your child that wants the education.</p>
<p>I think it is a terrible idea to plan to have 80,000 in loans when you graduate. When you graduate you have to think about getting a place to stay...a car...a lot of people are going to grad school and then they will be MORE in debt...and you can't take out any more loans by that time. </p>
<p>My parents have been very careful with me, my brother, and my sister, because they care about me after I graduate. They understand how difficult it is to tackle a huge amount of debt, especially just jumping into the workforce not knowing how it is going to work out. </p>
<p>I'll be a little over 32,000 in debt when I graduate from Cornell, and I think that that is a huge amount of money.</p>
<p>You should all get a job and take those loans and thank G-D that you have this wonderful opportunity.</p>
<p>Oh, and for those asking questions--the appeal process took about 7-10 business days for us. We actually called after that much time and asked over the phone and they were able to give us the information.</p>
<p>Seuferk, As you said your Parents have been very careful with you. I do not believe that because a university accepts you for admission they have an obligation to foot the bill. It is about choices. I raised my children to believe that there is no free ride. I raised them that way BECAUSE I love them and have faith in their ability and they have become trully amazing people.I just think that if we let our kids become adults they are better off.</p>
<p>I definately agree with working to help pay your way through college, but sometimes that just isn't enough. You have 2 sons who are attending Cornell, meaning that you get substantial more aid than someone, like me, who's only sibiling is out of college and getting her masters. I got very close to zero aid, and trust me, its not because my parents are wealthy...and the aid that I did get was simply loans, work study, "self help", and summer earnings. For me, it is impossible to earn the $2,000 they expect me to over the summer because I wil be working as an English teach in China, making less than $800, but I think that its a great opportunity and is worth it. I am certainly planning on working while I am at Cornell, but there is definately a point where I need more assistance. If I don't get anymore assistance, I will have well over $100,000 debt when I graduate. Is it worth it in my opinion, YES, but why go through the hassle when the university certaintly has the money to pay for it? I am not expecting a full ride, or even a half ride, but I am expecting a little more.</p>
<p>As I said it is all about choices.It is a wonderful experience to work in China over the summer but my sons will need to earn their expected summer earnings and spending money. They are also working when they get to Cornell. I wonder why someone who is going to China for the summer is getting any financial aid.</p>
<p>well I am going as an intern, certainly not simply for the pleasure of "travel". i have never gone anywhere where i have needed a passport, and although the plane ticket is expensive the cost of living in china is about 1/4 of what it is in the states, maybe even less than that. i am all about working for what i get, but please don't make assumptions about me or my financial situation because of my financial aid package or how i will be spending my summer. i will be working in china, i will not be backpacking through europe or drinking mai tais on the beach in hawaii. i work very hard for what i get, as do my parents, which is why i am appealing. there are just aspects of my family's situation that were overlooked, such as my father's retirement. i will certainly be wokring at cornell when i go there, as i worked while i was at my other college, as i worked while i was in high school. i am all about taking out loans, but cornell has the money. that's all i am saying. i do disagree with you about you view on full rides. it is need based...there are no "scholarships" because everyone at cornell would be getting them. need based is the way to go, although not all situations are as cut and dry as fafsa would like them to be.</p>
<p>It is a wonderful opportunity for you and I do not disagree with your choice.I do however hear too many young people speak with a tone of entitlement.I also feel that an education at Cornell is a treasured gift and should be appreciated as I am sure you will. I have seen other kids either in the ivies or going to the ivies not expected to work and have very very little in loans-If my sons could work and they should why should'nt someone else.You are also going to China for the experience and you will enjoy that tremendously.My sons will be hard at work and would rather teach whatever in China than work here in the states. The difference is they do not have the money for a plane ticket and if they did they know it is money that they need for Cornell. I can not judge you for your choice just as you can't judge me for my sons choice to have the 80.000 in loans.</p>
<p>what school are your sons in, if you don't mind me asking?</p>
<p>college of engineering</p>
<p>so they, most likely, will not be able to study abroad, right?</p>
<p>You are correct.</p>
<p>Are you implying that because study abroad is not possible during the school year that is is necessary to experience that now?</p>
<p>emily when I hear post such as sexy as a scorpio several posts before I just shake my head and wonder why so many people expect it so easy. What is the point of giving something so valuable away and do the recipients in turn feel like they owe something back?</p>
<p>no no no that is not what i am implying. i was going to say that even though they will not be going abroad, there may be internships or other opportunities that would be very influential in them getting a job in the future that may not pay very well. all i am saying is that there may be times when the benefits of experience outweigh the cost of not making as much money.</p>
<p>as i said before, i don't think that i deserve a full ride, or even a half ride. but when the school does have the money to give more, and when one's situation has changed since taxes were filed, i think that there should be some type of balance that is made between the school and the family. and most likley if people are expecting a full ride, they probably haven't had it very easy in the past. </p>
<p>i do think that internships and study abroad are very important to me, but others may think differently, especially those in other fields. i just think that sometimes, the literal cost may seem very high, but that the experience alone can outweigh it. </p>
<p>so we should stop our little argument, and get back to the original topic of this thread: the financial aid appeal process. how is it going for others? did it get you more aid, or not?</p>
<p>but just one more thing! lol</p>
<p>the application process is so ridiculous and stressfull and expensive and times consuming, etc. i completley agree that it is an honor to get into cornell, but that it is also very very hard work. take this from someone who applied early decision, got deferred, then rejected, then went to another school, and went through the entire applicaiton process again. the outcome was different, but the stress and time was not. i do think that if one gets into cornell they should be able to go, but sometimes there are financial situations that one cannot control, and although loans are always an option, they are certainly not the most favorable. like sexy like a scorpio, i would love to get a full ride, (as would anyone else!) but i am not expecting it, nor am i not willing to work for my education.</p>
<p>You can not imagine the stories of kids getting free rides completly free rides-WHY when people work hard ther whole life they pay the full price for their kkids ivy education. The least a kid getting any aid could do is do their part and take the loans. My sons have friends that have received stipends at ivies all in the name of NEED. I hope they all do well so they could pay Cornell back.</p>
<p>80,000 is loans is TOOO much.</p>
<p>hell yeah! im poor (in the national poverty line) and 80,000 in debt is like the price of a home to me!!!</p>