<p>"..they are good parents. but both are foreigners and have gotten to where they have so I should be able to do the same."</p>
<p>Costs of college have skyrocketed and job opportunities have greatly fallen since the time that presumably your parents came to this country. It is virtually impossible for students to work their way through college the way that people used to do as recently as 15 years ago. In addition, the cost of living in California has gone up, particularly in connection with land costs. If your parents bought any property years ago, it's now worth a great deal.</p>
<p>You, however, would have a hard time following in their footsteps because it is virtually impossible to get property in Calif. now on entry level salaries for most fields. This situation simply was not the case when your parents were younger.</p>
<p>My advice to you would be to borrow the money from your parents, and then to pay them back with an interest rate that you and your parents both feel is fair. This is more likely to get you to the college that you want -- and to instill in you the kind of determination and independence that you want -- than if you expect a college like USC to give you $45 k in merit aid.</p>
<p>It also is very late to start looking for scholarships. Most college scholarships are for rising college freshmen and for rising college seniors. Most also have deadlines that are much earlier in the year. With a lot of searching and hard work on applications, you may be able to win a few thousand dollars in scholarships now, but you're not likely to be able to get tens of thousands fo dollars worth.</p>
<p>Another option would be to delay college a year, and take a gap year, working two jobs, living at home, and putting all of your earnings aside to pay for college costs. You could get through college like this with affordable loans if you continued to interspace your time in college with time in the workforce.</p>
<p>I wish more kids and parents would see this type of post and learn from it before they begin the admissions process. Those "free-ride" offers are not a sure thing anywhere. You must have the money discussion ahead of time. If a parent can't or won't pay, kids should know that up front. Getting in is not the hard part for many, paying for it becomes the problem. Have a financial safety, don't get your heart set on any one school, cast a wide net. I don't know what the financial situation of the OP's family is, but I'll give him credit he feels screwed by USC and not by his parents. Hopefully that will preserve family harmony but it won't pay his tuition.</p>
<p>On the current board I found this:
"I have not seen the 'bait and switch' tactic in five years. The colleges have finally learned that that was bad business." Was not talking about any particular college.</p>
<p>My search results in the archives came up with only one thread that would suggest an indictment of USC:</p>
<h2>Your search for +bait +usc matched 1 page.</h2>
<ol>
<li>Financial Aid and Scholarships: May 2004 - Archive: Be aware of large upfront financial aid
financial aid may be the bait to get your child in the door
of Southern California a.k.a USC???? California Institute of
My elder daughter was baited into the honors housing, an</li>
</ol>
<p>The OP of the found thread said their USC need award was reduced because of a stupendous increase in their California home equity and resultant change in Profile EFC. A couple others chimed in with sympathy and that they heard something similar.</p>
<p>let this topic die. enough has been said and it is now completely off topic.</p>
<p>dt123: if you go and speak with admissions of USC you will find that they offer no scholarships for students after their first year that in ANY way compare to the up front full, half, and quarter scholarships. absolutely none that are over a couple thousand dollars. if you do not wish to take jamimom's experiences as truth then I suggest you find out for yourself (although you will find the same, as I did)</p>
<p>momoffour: plan ahead for the money, yes. limit ones future oppurtunities because of money? no. get in first, worry about the money later...</p>
<p>on a final note, I can't point the blame to anywhere else other than myself. although I do feel that i was qualified for a scholarship from USC the fact remains that I was ignorantly relying on solely that and made no other prior arrangements. while it is easy and relieving to complain that it was USC's fault I should have explored scholarships earlier in the year when they were most active, but I didn't, and i'm paying the price. (literally haha)</p>
<p>But I just got done applying for over 20 small 500 dollar-1k scholarships so I think there is hope for me, just going to take the tuition one year at a time. I have about 2000 dollars life savings, and am going to sell my car (1.5k) and am slowly getting rid of a lot of my stuff, I should be able to come up with the first years tuition.</p>
<p>I could set aside college for a year but I imagine it will be hard to get back in.</p>
<p>I will work this out, believe me, so may we please let this discussion RIP.</p>
<p>ill post back here in 4 years when I graduate ok???</p>
<p>Many colleges, including top colleges like Harvard, are very willing to delay student's admission if the students want to take a productive gap year and do something like work a job, do structured volunteer work or do structured travel.</p>
<p>It may be apocryphal, but USC had acquired that reputation in the '80s and '90s.</p>
<p>I know of no current evidence to support that belief. But it was a warning I received when my daughters enrolled in the '90s. Fortunately, we had no problems and did not hear of anyone else having such problems.</p>
<p>Whether deserved or not, a bad reputation is hard to overcome.</p>
<p>I don't think that not earning a merit scholarship qualifies as "getting screwed." Get over yourself!</p>
<p>No one owes you a merit scholarship, as you seem to feel. Considering how you didn't even apply for financial aid (telling the school that you feel you can afford the cost of tuition without help), I'm really confused by what you're complaining about.</p>
<p>EDIT: I just re-read your final post in this thread. It sounds like you have a better perspective now. The tone in your first several posts, though, was what set me off.</p>
<p>my high school graduation is june 23...a thursday...so the earliest I could start is june 27...I end august 19, a friday....classes start monday the 22nd...</p>
<p>it is a full time job...so 40 hours a week, but the pay is good, 570 dollars per week that will be about 4k before taxes...</p>
<p>and lately i have been doing people's homework for money...some idiot paid me 70 dollars to write his term paper</p>
<p>Bubblekid, I'm not really understanding one thing: are your parents making any contribution at all? It surprises me that they would let you sell your car and all your possessions to pay for college, especially when they're earning such a comfortable income. Full tuition doesn't seem like it should be impossible for them to pay. I admire your work ethic, but if they aren't going to help you, I would advise against USC. There is no realistic way you can swing over 40k for 4 consecutive years. It's beyond impractical; it's impossible.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>some idiot paid me 70 dollars to write his term paper>></p>
</blockquote>
<br>
<p>I'd be careful about this type of "job". First of all, it's dishonest. Second, if discovered you might not need to worry about tuition at USC at all. This type of thing is grounds for remission of acceptance.</p>
<p>I don't think your comparison to Jean Valjean is particularly appropriate. He stole a loaf of bread to keep from starving, wasn't it? Or for his family? (been awhile since I read it) You are choosing to be dishonest to help pay to attend the college of your choice. It is not a life or death choice. Will you continue this in college? How long before you get caught and lose the dream you worked so hard for?</p>
<p>Please reconsider. This is not a good way to begin your college career.</p>
<p>bubblekid i feel your pain man..whats the deal with foriegn parents refusing to shell out the mula for a high quality education...my parents who make 220+ "couldnt afford 45,000 a year" unless it was harvard or yale ofcourse...and when i "only" got into stanford, duke, hopkins...with no aid...its off to state flagship! fortunately though i got a full scholarship so i guess it kinda makes up for it but i know exactly where you are coming from</p>
<p>::So jamimom, USC should not have gapped anyone unless a mistake was made.::</p>
<p>HAHAHAHAHAHA. Fortunately USC was //not// one of my top choices, because they offered me - get this - just 4 grand in grants when my calculated need was around 17 grand. Another maybe 5 in loans and the rest, well, let's just say it disappeared somewhere. What a load of crap. They DO gap, and they gap A LOT.</p>
<p>Lily, who calculated your need as 17 grand? You, or USC? USC promises to meet 100% of <em>USC-calculated</em> need, if you turn all your paperwork in on time. If there was a discrepancy between your calculation and USC's calculation, I am sure they would have explained it to you if you asked.</p>
<p>In addition, USC's calculated need is usually not low. For better or worse, it is usually similar to that calculated by the PROFILE. If you turn in all the paperwork on time, they will meet 100% of need.</p>