<p>UCLA has always been my dream school since the beginning of middle school, and I am now a junior in high school. However, my family is very against the idea, as I would be moving from the East Coast. They are worried about the daunting distance and financial aspect. My problem is that, unlike the numerous universities close to home, UCLA is the only school that like for exclusively my own independent reasons. Please suggest some help to convince them, or convince me that this is a foolish, innocent dream. </p>
<p>If it helps, here are some details about myself:
I am an extremely hard working, self motivated student and enjoy everything there is to learn. In high school, I also balanced volunteering/work, sports, marching band, and student involvement organizations. I plan to continue this into college, which is another reason why UCLA is so appealing, due to its involved campus and my own school spirit. Following undergraduate work, I am very convinced to continue on into medical school.</p>
<p>Please rid yourself of the belief that there is only one school in the world that will make you happy. There are literally hundreds of schools that provide what you are looking for, based on the details you have provided. You need to research other options that are acceptable to you and your family. You may not be hearing some things that your parents are trying to tell you about financial limitations. Going far away to school, and paying out-of-state tuition at a California public university, are both extremely expensive propositions. Be mature and listen; then look around for a more attainable dream.</p>
<p>You do not indicate how high your grades and test are. UCLA is hard to get into. UCLA is also expensive for out of state and is not know for a lot of financial aid either. Look at the total cost of attendance including trips home and the profile of admitted students. Do the numbers yourself so you can show your parents you know what it takes. Then sit down with your parents to see what is possible. DD had to give up UCLA because the numbers just did not work.</p>
<p>If it is not possible then move on to find other schools with similar characteristics. You need to apply to more than one anyhow, including a financial safety that you can afford without any aid. .</p>
<p>UCLA is a CA public university. Your parents have every right to be concerned about the costs. As an OOS student, you will likely be expected to pay the FULL cost of attending…about $50,000 a year. I’m sorry but there are many other public universities with fine academic reputations that would be less expensive. </p>
<p>If your parents are concerned about the costs…you need to look at schools that are within their price range. There are TONS of excellent schools on the east coast. You don’t say your home state, but most east coast states have fine flagship universities with honors programs. Look at schools within the SUNY system as well…even for OOS the costs are FAR less than the cost of attending UCLA.</p>
<p>This is a very bad idea. UCLA will cost your family $50k+ a year, has limited financial aid OOS, and you want to go to med school. The financial reality simply doesn’t work.</p>
<p>There is no sound basis for concluding that only one school will work for you, especially with an institution as large and diverse as UCLA.</p>
<p>Listen to what everyone here is telling you. I live in CA and it is only getting worse at the UC’s because of our budget crisis. If you have the stats to get into UCLA you will pay a lot for OOS tuition. </p>
<p>I would suggest figuring out exactly what it is you like about UCLA and start looking for other schools with these similar characteristics.</p>
<p>mrroyboto- sounds like you really want UCLA. We also live in So. Cal. and I think you really need to rethink, or at least add other schools to your options! UCLA is very difficult to get into right now; we know kids with well over 4.0 weighted GPA’s and great test scores who did not get in. In addition, while I also love UCLA, Calif. public schools are not in great shape right now. They are cutting programs and classes and it is getting harder and harder to graduate in 4 years. Financial aid is tough to get- you will be paying a lot for something you can probably get for way less.</p>
<p>Have you ever been to visit the campus? No doubt it is beautiful, but there are many campuses on the east coast that are just as beautiful. Sometimes, people get hooked on a dream school for now concrete reason and then find it is not quite as imagined. My D applied to UCLA last year and was accepted and it was definitely her top choice. However, after she started looking at the program and the cuts, she ended up choosing an OOS school who gave her better aid. Try to step back and make a list of reasons you are so set on UCLA and then see if they are realistic.</p>
<p>However, my family is very against the idea, as I would be moving from the East Coast. They are worried about the daunting distance and financial aspect. My problem is that, unlike the numerous universities close to home, UCLA is the only school that like for exclusively my own independent reasons.</p>
<p>Have your parents told you how much they will spend each year for your education? If not, then you need to ask them.</p>
<p>If they won’t pay $50k+ per year, then you can’t go to UCLA - because it neither gives much aid to OOS students nor does it give much/any merit scholarships to out of state students. Therefore, you would likely be a full-pay student. </p>
<p>what are your stats? Perhaps if your stats are high enough, we can suggest some schools that will give you merit scholarships for your stats.</p>
<p>If your family can’t contribute much and is lowish income AND you have strong stats, we can suggest some schools that give a lot of financial aid to those who QUALIFY for financial aid.</p>
<p>What do you like about UCLA? If you tell us that, we can suggest schools that will give you a similar feel. There are many schools that offer academics and “school spirit”.</p>
<p>What is your likely major?</p>
<p>If UCLA will not be affordable, then you need to know that NOW, so you can move onto the many other schools where you can be happy attending.</p>
<p>I agree about not narrowing your options so small that you are unhappy and disappointed. That being said - turn this into an essay and write a persuasive paper. Cover all the points and defend your position. You may be able to use it later - and it will certainly begin to open a dialogue with your parents.</p>
<p>He first needs to find out how much his parents can/will pay. If they aren’t in any position to pay out anything close to $50k per year, then the issue is moot…no matter how compelling an argument.</p>
<p>That said, if the parents are affluent and will pay $50k per year, then the issue is proving that he’s responsible to be living across the country. That effort needs to be demonstrated now with responsible behavior…doing chores without being told, not making messes, doing your own laundry, respecting house rules, etc.</p>
<p>OP, perhaps you are a candidate for a merit scholarship at Arizona State? That is almost as far away.
(It is not too difficult to convince your parents to let you go out of state if you can show them it will cost them about the same as your going in state.)</p>
<p>If he really can’t voice a decision, use the old tried and true flip a coin. Assign heads to one, tails to the other. If he is happy or sad about the result or roots for one of them - that’s the answer :)</p>
