I was forced by my parents to apply to a college I have a somewhat good chance at getting in. I’m already accepted into a school I really want to go to. But, if I get accepted into the other school, I will have to go to that one. I do not want to go to the one they made me apply to. What can I do to get my application rejected? I can’t just pull my application because my parents will need to see a letter of rejection. PS… saying that “I just need to talk to them” is not an option. I need actual help on how I can get my app declined.
Can your parents afford the college you want to attend? What’s your back up plan if they decide they can’t/won’t pay for the other school? Would you be willing to attend a community college if they don’t pay for your dream school? There’s not a lot of aid for transfer students, so I’d be very careful about purposely getting undermining what are likely affordable options to force your parents’ hand. Students who dig their heels in assuming their parents will have no choice sometimes appear here in April frantically looking for alternatives to cc. Don’t let that be you.
Subject to what Austin said, your guidance counselor can call and make sure you get rejected.
I agree, let your GC know asap. Tell him or her what you have told us. Or, you can email the regional rep, saying the same. Explain that you were forced to apply. You will be denied.
I’m agree with @austinmshauri . Is this a money issue? It really sounds like it could be one. Or did your parent decide that they wanted you to be closer to home? Either way, if you get turned down the by the school they want, you may not be going anywhere. They don’t have to send you to the other school if they don’t want to.
@huh12huh, How much can your parents afford to pay for college? Why do they prefer the other school? Can they afford to pay out-of-pocket or will they have to borrow to cover the costs? It’s really easy for the parents on this board who are full pay to the tune of ~$30k/year (or more) to say contact your GC and get your app rejected. If my son had done that he’d be at a community college right now instead of our state university because we weren’t in a position to gamble that I could get a job that pays enough to cover his tuition. If he purposely got himself rejected from an affordable school and I found out about it, I’d assume he was too immature to go away to college and he’d be attending the local community college or taking a gap year. And if I discovered the high school guidance counselor interfered, I’d file a complaint with the school board. If you want to attend a residential college in the fall, I’d do what I could to get all my apps accepted. The game you’re playing could backfire.
What are the schools? What are your reasons? What are their reasons?
It’s their job to interfere, and tell the truth to the colleges. “I don’t think he really wants to go there”. Not wanting to be at a school is a pretty good recipe for failure, don’t you think?
FTR, I do think the posters above are right that we need more info about the whys before accurate advice can be given.
My parents prefer that school because my family went and graduated from there, and it is closer to home. They already know the school I want to go to is the backup school if I don’t get into the one they want me to go to. My family and I have everything covered and talked about financially for the school I want to go too, so it won’t be a surprise to them.
Also, I will be paying a lot as well, along with the scholarships and grants I received. I have my own full-time job. I’m not entirely depending on my parents.
Is this the whole story? It doesn’t seem to make sense. According to the latest posts your parents are OK with the other school and can afford it, and you’ve talked everything over and are on the same page. So why the drama of trying to go behind their backs? You should realize that many people posting here are parents and we are trying to understand why you feel the need to do this. Are they really OK with the other school , or are they looking at it as a last resort that they hope really doesn’t happen?
They are okay with the other school, but ONLY if I get declined from the one they want me to go too.
I heard a story from an AdCom once who said that a student wrote and essay all about why he didn’t want to go to the school. Apparently, his parents wouldn’t listen to him and forced him to apply. Of course, he was denied. But, then, the parents contacted the school for more information. (Their son was qualified and should have been accepted.) After some back and forth, the truth came out. Be sure you don’t put yourself in a situation where your parents withdraw all help. Be careful.
What’s so bad about the school they want you to go to? Does it have the major you are interested in? I know you want this to be your journey, but for some parents is a sense of pride that they won’t let go. Relationships suffer. Weigh your options and the consequences before deciding what to do.
How much is “a lot”? You can only borrow ~$5500/year. And any savings you have over ~$6k will be assessed at 20% and that amount will be added to your EFC.
@Postmodern, Any kid who tanks their GPA because they don’t want to be at a particular residential college should save themselves the time and trouble and just enroll directly in a cc. Attending any residential college is a privilege. Few families get to be as choosy about which one to attend as those on CC. I think it’s a mistake to assume that this family can afford their child’s top choice. That s/he is going behind their backs to get their way says a lot. We have no idea what the EFC is, what the colleges cost, or how this family expects to pay. I hope the OP has a financial safety and/or is comfortable starting at a cc.
You’re missing the point. I am completely able to go to the school I want to go too, but only if I am rejected from the one my parents want me to go too.
@austinmshauri , I am not sure what your point is or, more importantly, why it is directed at me.
“It’s really easy for the parents on this board who are full pay to the tune of ~$30k/year (or more) to say contact your GC and get your app rejected.”
Really? Was that necessary?
Have you attempted to simply “withdraw” your application? maybe your GC can help you with that.
I was responding to this comment. For mature, reponsible students the answer is no. Kids whose parents can absorb the loss and send their kid on to wherever they want to go might end up failing. Most families aren’t in the position to squander that opportunity and the smart, responsible kids know that.
There are many parents out there, who for whatever reason, try to control, manipulate and coerce their children into going to a particular college. I can completely understand the OP’s predicament. I know a young lady my daughter is friends with whose parents are pushing hard for a particular school the student has absolutely no interest in attending, and it’s not a financial issue, many of the schools on her list are higher rated and more budget friendly. If she gets in there it will be tough to choose other schools that suit her better. This student’s solution was to dumb down her essays for that school. My mom side says have an earnest heart to heart with your parents, they’ll understand and compromise… but I know that isn’t always the case.