<p>okay, so let me preface this by stating that my parents are highly irresponsible. i dont mean that as an insult or to be a bratty kid; it is merely fact.
what happened: my parents allowed me to apply EDII to Colgate, and I got in. However, we didn't get ANY financial aid...my parents seemed to expect that we would.
Colgate is about 55,000 dollars a year. I LOVE Colgate, obviously, but my parents now tell me that if i want to go, they will pay 35,000 a year and they will lend me the other 20,000 from their retirement fund.
That means that I will be 80,000 in debt to my parents when I graduate, and that doesn't include grad school debt, if I choose to go.
I'm also worried that the 36,000 will be a terrible burden to them, as they plan to retire fairly soon, and like I said, they are not great at money management. We have a house in Colorado, Connecticut and Canada that they have to pay for on top of all of this.
Now, I got accepted to Tulane with a 20,000 scholarship, but I don't want to go there at all!! I absolutely do not like the school and only applied on a whim.
I applied to McGill, which my parents have told me they can easily pay for, but I have not heard back yet because my second quarter grades have not been sent yet (due to tons of snowdays at school delaying the whole process).
I have to send my deposit to Colgate in 2 weeks, and then I am locked in for good.
I could say no because we can't pay, and then pray I get into McGill, but the problem is, my grades weren't great for quarter to (they went down to a 3.5 from a 3.9) and I'm concerned that this will affect my chances at McGill. If I got into McGill, I would be fully willing to go there, though its not my first choice.
I know you probably have a headache just reading this, but please, please help me. I don't know what to do and my parents refuse to advise me, stating I can do whatever I want.</p>
<p>Colgate is too expensive for your family now and especially later when they need to rely on their retirement fund for income.
Work on your grades to get into McGill or have the improved grades for an appeal if needed.
McGill is your the practical, down to earth gf/bf, not the sexy irrational bf/gf like Colgate.
Your headaches will get worse if you go to Colgate- the uncertainty about finances will erode any carefree fun times you will experience there.
Help your parents to get their finances in order-Suze Orman’s website is a good place to start.
You do not want to have to support them financially in their old age.</p>