<p>Okay so I'm from the California Bay Area and my parents (asian parents) want me to go to school nearby like the University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, UC Berkeley (way out of my reach) Cal Poly SLO, and stay at home. </p>
<p>I honestly don't have a problem with that because USF and SCU are my two top choices and they're great schools... but I also am really interested in schools on the east coast like the American University(top choice), Catholic University of America, Purdue, and the Richmond American Intl. University in London. </p>
<p>I have convinced my mom to let me go if I get in but my dad on the other hand doesn't want me to go. </p>
<p>Financial aid is also a factor when it comes to deciding what college I will go to and the colleges that aren't in california that I'm applying to have great financial aid needs met. </p>
<p>So does anyone have any advice or have had experience in trying to convince your parents to go to school far away?</p>
<p>Promise to call regularly (And actually do it), prove that your future career opportunities and financial stability will be better coming out of schools over there, visit as often as possible, or promise to apply for internships in the California (Made easier if your university is nationally renowned)</p>
<p>Exactly what is the problem your dad has with going to the opposite side of the country?</p>
<p>(In other words) if you apply to some places where you would be among the top admitted students (in terms of statistics) or bring diversity to the school (possibly cultural/racial, or it could be a certain interest or skill that they want to develop, or if you are interested in a major they want to beef up), then you may be offered a sizeable incentive to attend. Try to verify that certain schools you apply to DO offer merit aid.</p>
<p>If these schools are not ones you are interested in, you could take the other path, and show your dad evidence of successful outcomes of the graduates from these schools.</p>
<p>And in the meantime, just try to show your dad how careful and responsible you are.</p>
<p>Hard to respond without knowing your dad’s reasoning. Will he miss you too much? Explain that you will be spending your time at school and only come home to sleep, so he won’t see much of you anyway–and mention how Skype will help. Does he feel you aren’t mature enough to live on your own? Find ways to demonstrate your maturity. Is it the travel cost? Find a job and save all your earnings to fund your transportation. Good luck!</p>
<p>Talk to your dad about why he wants you to stay close to home. He may be worried that you’ll change your mind after moving across country or it could be he thinks it’s more expensive to go OOS.</p>
<p>Exactly what hanaviolet said, merit aid. In my D’s case, it was a combo of merit and athletic aid. She’s chosen an OOS school in a state we had never visited. When we did visit last year, we were pleasantly surprised. My worries about her going OOS state were reduced to feeling sad about not having her around. But she would be away to college even if she did stay close to home!</p>
<p>Travel costs can be much more expensive than originally expected. Will you go home every time there is a break, or will you go home only once or twice a year? If you don’t go home for every break, what will you do? Are there relatives and family friends who you can stay with, or will you need to to somewhere else that will cost more money?</p>
<p>Sit down and draw up a budget for that kind of stuff. That way you and your parents will have a better idea of what it might come to.</p>