<p>My parents are absolutely insisting that I go for the cheapest options for college, as in Cal State universities. The thing is, we're not super rich, but definitely pretty upper-middle-class. There's three kids in the family; one of my brothers in 17 like me and wants to go to UC Santa Cruz only, ED, which is the cheapest option humanly possible as SC is only 35 miles away from us. My other brother is 8 and couldn't care less. I'm been looking at mostly East Coast schools because I love the area (I visit my aunt in MA every year) and have found a lot of excellent schools. How can I convince my parents that while I love them, I want to go East for college where many schools, just like in CA, are pricey? I'm completely willing to work and try for scholarships to defray costs.</p>
<p>i know how you feel. i'm 4 of 5 and my parents say i have to go to an instate school (new mexico, bleh). we're definitely not poor. my dad's a freaking general surgeon but they have 5 kids to put through college.</p>
<p>If you're looking for an east coast school but you're worried about financial options, I would consider BU. BU looks expensive, but it gives a large amount of financial aid and a lot of top notch students get free rides at BU so I would look into school-specific scholarships if you're thinking about that. Apply regular decision and see if you get a scholarship. :)</p>
<p>Most of the top notch schools give out a lot of financial aid. Harvard and Princeton are known for generous financial offers.</p>
<p>yeah, that's kinda hard......i'm considering schools in CA too, of course, especially some of the cheaper options, but I really love a lot of the schools I've found back East. my dad is a software engineer in silicon valley and we're definitely not short on cash right now. my parents are building some 50k "utility building" in the backyard we don't even need and claim to not be able to pay for our college. Three kids, but still.</p>
<p>What about LACs like Amherst and Vassar? I know Amherst is pretty generous, but what about other related schools? How's the financial aid at any of those? I'm trying to be as proactive as possible here....</p>
<p>Apply to ALL schools you have an interest in and then wait too evaluate the FA offer. You might be very surprised at the amounts offered. You're parents are worried and may not have kept up on the out of pocket costs.......</p>
<p>Parents suck. </p>
<p>...I have no advice.</p>
<p>They won't give you enough financial aid? I thought the point of fin aid was that exactly this kind of situation never happens?</p>
<p>There are a lot of income brackets where parents are deemed able to pay for the college, but the parents don't want to or don't think they're able. </p>
<p>My parents whine about costs sometimes (four kids), but they're still paying. haha ...And we would get zero financial aid.</p>
<p>I think a lot of parents worry and freak out early. Just make sure you don't limit you applications early. Once your parents come to terms with the fact that you are going to go to college and that is costs two arms and a leg.......well then you can have a real discussion. Until the offers of FA come having a discussion is just practice because their propensity to freak out is high. This is not a criticism but rather an observation. This has to grown on some parents.</p>
<p>Argh...I wish my parents gave me some idea of how much money they would be able to contribute to college. I am only 1 of 2 (I have a twin brother) but I know that my parents could never afford two full tuition bills. So, I'm pretty sure I'll qualify for some financial aid, but I have no idea how much. I've been looking at primarily private colleges without money barriers (not that private colleges really differ much in cost, only aid). My dream school is Princeton, and I know that I would get the best aid there, so I will be applying ED next year. However, I wish my parents would do a little more than be bobbleheads in my college search process. They say "whatever you want to do", but I'd appreciate their input, at least on financial matters. I know I am lucky that my parents are giving me free reign on the college search (some parents are overbearing) but sometimes I wish they would at least give their opinions.</p>
<p>The search for the college really should be your own process and it sounds as if your parents have given you that blessed freedom. The money part will come later........good luck on your ED.</p>
<p>Hazmat is right. Apply to the schools you want to go to. Apply without telling your parents if you have to. When you have an acceptance letter from Harvard or similar institution along with a scholarship or two and a generous financial aid package, they may well change their minds.</p>
<p>JTC, I would highly suggest that you do not apply ED if there are any financial considerations at all. You never know what they'll give you, and that contract you sign really isn't a joke. Be careful with ED!</p>
<p>If ED is your best option but finances a concern contact the school and they will gladly give you a very good idea of what to expect. Not too many schools have ED and in the near future it might be fewer yet. Almost all FA departments will speak w/ you and your folks during your college look see process. You can make separate appointments with the FA people and they are there to help you.......they are not enemies. Work with them before they are slammed after the letters come out. It takes time to understand the complicated financial aid process. Don't be afraid of it......learn it and gain confidence. One thing that is important in the college admission process is ownership and empowerment with knowledge. The less you feel powerless the more successful your outcome and this goes for your folks too.</p>
<p>So what happens if you're accepted ED to a school that you just plain can't afford, even after FA?</p>
<p>You aren't quite asking the right question. Most schools will meet the full need meaning you may have more loans than you wished in your combo of grants and loans. What you are talking about is GAP which is they don't award you a way to get the entire expense covered. If you truly cannot pay then you are released but this is not a situation that you can just will nillly walk away from. The school usually work with you. </p>
<p>Don't stress so much the best schools are fair and usually generous..</p>
<p>I DO agree with other posters that you should feel empowered to take control of the college search process yourself. Don't be put off initially by the "list prices" of tuition and B&R since (depending on the school) many students attend colleges at discounted prices with good need and non-need (merit) financial aid.</p>
<p>I DON'T agree with other posters that you should ignore your parents for the time being, especially those that suggest waiting till the maticulation offers come in. I think it's important that you try and sit down with your parents ASAP and insist on a heart-to-heart talk about their idea of a Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). There are several pretty good EFC calculators online that will give you and your parents a ballpark estimates of what you're expected to pay. Don't rule anything or any schools out based on rumor or hearsay until you've actually tried to do the EFC $$ calculations.</p>
<p>The tone of your post suggests that what a college might expect you to pay and what your parents are willing to pay may differ by a large margin. If your parents are holding a firm line, I'd investigate schools with large merit aid budgets (not every school offers merit aid). Seach CC for threads on "merit aid" (whole 'nother topic). Lots of good CC discussions which can't be recounted here, but merit aid is generally given to the top 5-15% in order to attract students with certain desired qualifications. So you may have to pick and choose your colleges where your HS gpa, class rank, standardized test scores, and ECs place you at the very top of that particular college's applicant pool.</p>
<p>Best of luck ...</p>
<p>My parents are completely trying to delay the process. I've asked about doing the EFC with them and they've either said no or said that I won't be a part of it because their money is their business. I feel like I'm at a bit of a dead end here.</p>
<p>Geeze; I thought my parents were harsh. My father insisted that I apply to some UCs, even though I would rather go to freaking Agnes Scott College than stay four years in one of those diploma-herding-knowledge slaughterhouses (tad bit of bias), but after that he let me apply wherever I wanted. But then, I had the "you only see me once a week and really never got to know me" guilt card. Your family, I assume, is intact, and so I can't offer good advice given the different dynamics.</p>
<p>I can give you so-so advice, though. Are you a senior or a junior? If the former, it's too late to do anything about it because the deadlines have passed. If the latter, you have a whole year to slowly errode at their resolution. What's with the "our money is our business"? Like you're going to be on a feeding tube all through undergrad? How much independence do they grant you? Maybe my family is weird, but they actually get angry with me if I'm not up to date on the household finances.</p>
<p>In another year, you will be legally independent. It would be great if you could communicate this to your parents (without sounding insolent), and if all else fails, get control of your own money situation for applications, at least. Keep the lines open with your parents; let them know where you are applying and the possibilities for your future...then if your preferences don't work out (as in, you get the aid packages in April and find out they're not adequate), Cal State isn't the end of the world. You can transfer out after two years, there's always hope.</p>