<p>@ Coldwind: We have extenuating circumstances, four grandparents; all of them with serious medical issues. Due to citizenship, visa and other stuff the insurance we have is extremely expensive (and that to the fourth for all of them) and it does not cover many things. </p>
<p>Among this we are stuck paying of some of the grand parents accumulated debt.....</p>
<p>Either way 40k, 50k, or for that matter even 100k, is not what is breaking the camels back. My parents hold the value of money to be important... Basically my question is with all of this in consideration, along with what I have saved, can I get enough FA for ~2 years such that my parents won't have to pay more than ~5k...</p>
<p>Some of the post seem to imply a miserly connotation to the circumstance, there is not. We donate over 100k a year to organizations and charities. The reason they do not wish to pay is they do not see the value of a HADES education to be so expensive. They got everything for their "top tier" education from scholarships and they equate that with hard work. Thus they want me to either earn with sweat or with brains the money to pay for such an education.</p>
<p>You describe that you and your parents have differing priorities. I do not think anyone on cc can reconcile those priorities. That is between you and your parents.</p>
<p>And with respect to the incidentals, all except the travel expense will be incurred at home as well as at boarding school. Children at home need books, spending money and other incidentals. So on top of the approximately 40k base, all you have is the travel.</p>
<p>And I was not suggesting that you save 30k with a year at boarding school. I was alluding to the fact that for a 40k investment you get about 70k worth of goods and services.</p>
<p>If your family donates over $100,000 to charities, they can afford $48,000 per year for your schooling. Paying the medical bills of members outside of the immediate family of your parents & you & your siblings typically is not a legal obligation & may not reduce your families EFC.</p>
<p>Every family, immigrant or not, "cares about the value of a dollar." Different families, however, have different priorities on how those dollars should be spent. Unfortunately, until you support yourself, you have to live with your parents' priorities. And, from what you have said, boarding school does not appear to be one of them.</p>
<p>principalviola, you are in a very good public school, free of charge, and I assume you stand out in your class. I would agree with your parents perspective and stay in the current school. I think the chance of your getting FA from these school is slim. It doesn't hurt to give it a try though. Anyone here would agree that the applicatio process itself is such a wonderful training ground to help you grow.</p>
<p>Pan...at our public school, we don't have to pay for textbooks. I have paid approximately $800 for textbooks this year for my son at his bs....so I can definitely add that to the tab.</p>
<p>None of this makes any sense. Wanting a top education is not an entitlement issue. If this is indeed a genuine situation, and your parents would rather give $100K to charity than pay for an education for a smart, motivated kid, I think there has to be an information gap.</p>
<p>Have your parents visited any of these schools? If not, perhaps that's the problem. One look at what they are and what they offer should change their minds.</p>
<p>Applying for aid is arrogant and unreasonable. The financial aid officer looking at their tax returns and the fact that they have $100K to donate will think he's seeing things.</p>
<p>I used "entitlement generation" in a very abstract sense. In todays world the people think they can get everything easy, it is not the case. </p>
<p>Like Exeter says, everyone should receive a good education regardless of financial situation.</p>
<p>I can say for a fact that with the education I am receiving right now along with legacy getting into Ivies will not be likelier (or less likely) if I do go to HADES etc. Thing is it is a place where I feel I can learn, grow, and thrive in many ways.</p>
<p>Both my parents attended Gordon Conferences at some of these schools, they know what the schools are like. Maybe I am a part of "entitlement gen." I do not see why they see it is too out of the world... </p>
<p>Either way I respect their decision...</p>
<p>Thanks to all the suggestions/help everyone gave :)</p>
<p>I don't think it is a matter of your parents valuing money--it's just that they don't value a boarding school education enough to pay anymore than $5k. That is the true description--it's not so much their feelings toward money, but their feelings toward the schools you are interested in. Fair enough, they are your parents, so you are probably staying where you are.</p>
<p>This issue is going to come up for you again in a few years. The Ivy's, and schools such as Georgetown, Stanford, etc are committed to reserving ALL of their financial aid money for students with financial aid, feeling that is the right thing to do rather than giving it out as merit aid. If you are a top student, but your parents won't pay for college, you may really have a blow up with them since you will be in the unique position of coming from a family who doesn't qualify for aid, yet also won't spend their money on college. If I were you, I'd give up on the boarding school financial situation and focus on getting them to see the light for college. Good luck!</p>
<p>As for the college scene:
I am confident I can rack up quite a few in scholarships along with fellowships such that my parents will pay the delta...</p>
<p>By that time they will be more accustomed to the idea of having a lot of money.</p>
<p>Just to clear things up, it is not that they value my education at 5k (when I complain about them not paying I get myself stuck in a lecture about them willing to pay 100s of 1000s if need be, BUT the delta between my current school and hades is only 5k as they see it).</p>
<p>frankly, i have absolutely no idea why they didnt offer to pay your whole tuition for college if they have the money. are u sure they are not just frugal?</p>
<p>I think you missed my point---top colleges do not offer scholarships. There is no way you could get one. If you are willing to go to lower tier schools, they will offer you merit money as a way of getting you to attend their school.</p>
<p>I assume that if you are interested in top boarding schools at this young age of yours, but the time you are a senior, it will be hard for you to turn down top colleges, only to consider scholarships at lower tier schools. That was my point.</p>
<p>No I do not mean the local $5 scholarship. </p>
<p>I do not know the details but my dad got a FULL fellowship (I do not know the difference) from Harvard, fully merit based (even though he could have qualified for need) scholarship. </p>
<p>You just need to know who gives it etc. </p>
<p>Oh and things like Intel, Siemens, Westinghouse, will play a huge role.</p>
<p>Your dad's fellowship must have been for grad school, since Harvard doesn't offer anything like that for undergrads. The admissions office at Harvard has actually criticized schools like Emory for giving away merit aid, going so far as to say it is immoral to do so. The Coca Cola and other scholarships you mentioned are either need-based or give a priority to applicants with need. Well, I won't argue it with you though...</p>