<p>I almost suggested the spreadsheet. Make a column for tuition + fees + room and board, make a column for NPC, and make a column for transportation, books and walking around money. Frankly both you and your parents are going to more than likely have to move off your positions. They might need to entertain you going alittle further than the NE and you might, too, need to consider some of the high quality schools that are outside your region and give generous aid to close your family gap. Look at “if you like this you might like this schools” --there are plenty of threads. Spend your summer really doing your homework. Shut your ears to what other kids are “talking about” believe me there will be plenty of surprises come spring graduation. If I had a dime for every kid that said "I’m going to California, or I’m going to Colorado, etc., I could afford my third child’s tuition.</p>
<p>USC will work. If I could get a decent scholarship there, then obviously the travel costs wouldn’t matter (if I can only convince my parents this). </p>
<p>I think my parents are almost “choosing not to know” about the costs and hoping to postpone the discussion as late as possible. </p>
<p>And dodgersmom- that is a great idea. I will definitely compile that list. I’m pretty sure I will apply to BU and GW with the estimated aid they offered. I talked to my parents about it but they think that it’s not accurate. I’m just praying that it is!</p>
<p>I asked my parents about going to college in California if I got a good scholarship…they told me, “NO WAY! WE CAN’T AFFORD THAT!” They close their ears to anything new.</p>
<p>I think that once they see a spread sheet with the costs they will have more of an open mind. Plus, I am the oldest child, and my mom especially has a hard time letting go…doesn’t help my situation.</p>
<p>you can get good paying internships at USC in the summer-[ you should plan on doing this at any college you go to] . You will probably not be travellng back east any times except at Xmas and Summer, except for your first year, and Southwest has the cheapest tix of any airline. You can also save $$ by buying used text books online, and living in LA you won’t need a cold weather wardrobe.</p>
<p>What are your in-state options, FlowerGirl145?</p>
<p>Thanks meloparkmom, California sounds quite appealing to me. My great uncle was a professor at USC as well. I have never been further west than Michigan, or further south than D.C., so going to another part of the country would be amazing for me!</p>
<p>I also love the look of Pomona College, but USC would probably be similar to that and offer the national merit awards, so it would be the better option.</p>
<p>Your parents will have to be told that they have no say in where you are ACCEPTED, regardless of where they want you to go or live. They will have to realize , sooner than later, that they are not in the drivers seat if they want you to go to college, especially if they are unwilling to provide much financial support. The reality is that college can cost a top student lot or a little, depending on where the student applies. </p>
<p>“Plus, I am the oldest child, and my mom especially has a hard time letting go.”</p>
<p>I have a feeling this is a bigger factor at this point than anything else. All parents have a hard time seeing their first born leave the nest…</p>
<p>*USC will work. If I could get a decent scholarship there, then obviously the travel costs wouldn’t matter (if I can only convince my parents this). *</p>
<p>How do you know USC will work? What did USC NPC indicate?</p>
<p>Yes, large merit at various schools will make them more in reach cost-wise for you. but, if your parents will only pay $7k, then that will be an issue since the most a school will likely give you is a full tuition merit scholarship. If you make NMF you’ll have more merit options.</p>
<p>I think you made a mistake with those NPCs. Merit gets applied to “need”. If you put in that your family’s income is $150k, then it’s unlikely you’d end up with those costs…merit isn’t that big at those schools. At most, full tuition.</p>
<p>Flowergirl, At any school where you are hoping for financial aid (not merit-- so ivies and such), there are a few more considerations. Do you live with both your parents or is one a stepparent? Do your parents own a business or is either of them self-employed? Do your parents own significant assets-- that includes the value of your primary residence but especially if they have rental property or such. These are factors which can complicate financial aid quite a bit.</p>
<p>You absolutely need to get across to your parents that waiting until the last minute to discuss college finances is a disaster in the making.</p>
<p>USC also offers extra funding to tip top scholars[ Mork scholarships], plus internships that pay 5000-6000 per summer.</p>
<p>Unless I missed something, FlowerGirl145 hasn’t said how “top” a student she is. She needn’t, of course, but if the data are not in yet on national merit and such, it seems hasty to assume eligibility for the most generous merit options out there (such as what USC offers for NMFs). Obviously, FlowerGirl145 should review all her options, and it is of course possible that she could get significant merit aid somewhere. But FlowerGirl145 needs to investigate, as well, some options that are within reach assuming a less rosy scenario than eventual NMF status or tippy-top ACT/SAT scores.</p>
<p>Could I get a science internship @ USC? I do 250+ hours of scientific research over the summer (full weekdays) in a laboratory.</p>
<p>Menloparkmom- Yes, my mom is really unwilling for me to leave the nest. She was also really unwilling to let me drive, too…I notice a pattern here…</p>
<p>2collegewego- My parents are married. We have one house. We have no assets as far as I am aware…just my father’s income. My father works and my mother stays at home. We do not have a farm or a business; my dad works for a corporation.</p>
<p>@absweetmarie</p>
<p>I have high test scores, one of the highest GPAs in my grade, and am at the top of my class. My strongest point is really my extracurriculars and my course load (relative to the difficulty of the course load at my school). </p>
<p>If you want me to list it in more specifics, I will. I am no genius who took Calculus at age 13 or something, but I am at the top, at least at my school and at the public schools I attended before private school.</p>
<p>Could I get a science internship @ USC? I do 250+ hours of scientific research over the summer (full weekdays) in a laboratory. </p>
<p>sure, absolutely!</p>
<p>Flowergirl, you can PM me with your stats if you to get a better idea of your chances.
My son was a Trustee[ full tuition scholarship] student at USC and is now doing his PhD at Caltech.</p>
<p>Truly, you do not need to prove anything to me, and I’m sorry if it seemed I was challenging you, FlowerGirl145. What I’m saying is that you need an option or two that will work should you NOT achieve, say, national merit finalist status. Getting a full-ride or even a half-tuition scholarships is no mean feat. Yes, many top students are rewarded handsomely. That doesn’t mean you should count on colleges throwing money at you. You need to find a real safety option that doesn’t depend on getting merit that puts your costs significantly below your family’s EFC. That’s just prudent. Dream big but have a real back-up plan that you can live with.</p>
<p>I recommend focusing on what is important to you rather than rankings. </p>
<p>Keep in mind that the most famous and widely quoted rankings are created for US News and World Report by Robert Morse, who attended University of Cincinnati undergrad and Michigan State for his MBA.</p>
<p>FlowerGirl145, if you can list your test scores, GPA, interest for field of study, and a sample of your ECs, people would be able to give you a more informed opinion on what schools might be a good fit in getting in and receiving aid.</p>
<p>SAT: 2260 (may retake)
ACT: 33 (may retake)
GPA: 3.8 (not as high as most people’s…but my school is completely rigorous. I had a perfect GPA before private school…would likely have a perfect GPA if I were in public high school right now…)
Extracurriculars (my best):
-Community service for 7 hours/week (organizing a huge charity fundraising project at my school for next year)…I have been with the same organization since freshman year
-100 hours/summer throughout high school thus far tutoring children with disabilities and providing music therapy for them
-Leadership position in student government, as well as two club leadership positions
-I play four instruments and hope to add a fifth when I have time. I am composing a symphony for a school-sponsered project that my school orchestra will likely perform at a concert once complete
-I play in two orchestras, one in school and one outside of school, and am first chair in the school orchestra
-I take private music lessons for 3 instruments and teach lessons to middle schoolers
-I received scholarship money from the school to travel internationally next year
-I am a varsity athlete on two teams (one of which I am the top-performing athlete at my school and will very likely be captain of one or both next year)
-As mentioned before, I spend about 250 hours over the summer in a lab doing research with a PhD scientist, and I do that for 4 hours during the week as well during the school year
-Will likely enter the Siemens competition next year for my scientific work and some of my research will be published soon
-I have won many writing awards in my school community
-Student newspaper chief editor
-I also have a political blog and I am in the process of writing my second novel (those are just for my own enjoyment, though…not really extracurriculars)
-Won many school awards that are miscellaneous for athletic and academic accomplishments, as well as for my involvement with community service
I think that’s about everything.</p>
<p>“I received scholarship money from the school to travel internationally next year.” You aren’t spending your senior year abroad, are you? Because you would be better off staying in your high school and taking leadership positions in your activities. </p>
<p>I think you look very solid. Is that 3.8 top 10%? (At my kids’ school, it would be. The top schools look at how your gpa compares to others in your school and rank or estimated rank-- which is usually on your school profile-- will tell you.)</p>