How do I warm my parents up to the idea of me going far away for college?

College Search & Selection
4

1)You have two of the millions of parents that prefer their college student to be within driving distance. If you want their financial help, you need to find a a school that meets their parameters or try to convince them that a school further away uniquely fits your needs.

  1. Both of my kids did their undergrad within driving distance and we did not look at colleges that required a flight. My S went to a grad school that he had to fly to but by that time he was settled on a career path, this school was a top 4 school in his discipline, and it was only a one year program – while it was worth it for a one year program, it certainly added an element of hassle and expense.

  2. I’m also not impressed that you looked at your parent’s paychecks, but before you make assumptions about what they can afford have you also looked at their expenses? There is the mortgage, insurance, car payments, other college bills, food, gas…(it is quite a long list, trust me).

  3. This may be beside the point, but I’m really not sure how you can major in engineering as a CC transfer since engineering is generally a four year program which requires classes be taken in a specific sequence.

  4. While you may be technically an adult at 19, you don’t always sound like one. Expressions like “pull out of her butthole” suggest that perhaps you haven’t had a talk where you actually listen to your parents concerns.

  5. Parents do not cast votes weighted by who makes more money in any family I know. Unless you want to take on the costs on your own, you would have to convince both your mom and dad to let you go to college out east for it to happen.

7} I suggest you a) put a great deal of energy into looking at schools within 8 or so hours of where you live 2) sit down with your parents and talk about the constraints (economical and geographic) to your college search.

  1. This is not a knock on WVU, but there are likely plenty of schools of a similar caliber that are closer to home if you look for them.

  2. There are so many students in this country and abroad that would give anything for the chance at a college education anywhere. Take a moment and count your blessings.