<p>dlp Add me to the list of those who think you should transfer. What disturbs me the most is not the two ignoramuses that make racist remarks, but the silent consent of ALL the rest. Please take yourself out of that environment. You deserve better. Good Luck.</p>
<p>hi Op. Okay I am going to disagree with everyone else and say fight it out. Kansas State University has around 18,000 undergrads, right? Okay well I know this is a long shot, but if you can, try to contact Michael Beasly. Try and see if you can find any other minority students on campus (whether it be through facebook, friends of friends etc). Then, revive the Black Student Union or form a minority club. These organizations can then have events (such as watching "Crash" or "Do the Right Thing") in an effort to promote respect of all peoples.
Also, KSU seems to be the best school for you financially. </p>
<p>If you do transfer, make sure you speak out about why you want to leave/left. I wish you the best of luck!</p>
<p>Check out this thread about colleges that still have openings for the fall. Smith is still looking for transfers. What a cool school! Lots of other places as well. Follow the link and check by state.</p>
<p>I think everyone's ignoring one thing... The OP probably can't transfer unless she pays the school the $2K she owes them. They probably will not release her transcript until that time. (Of course, she can't register either. I'm just saying she won't have options until she clears up that obligation.)</p>
<p>I think there is a chance that she can get out of that obligation under the circumstances.</p>
<p>Spideygirl notes,"I think there is a chance that she can get out of that obligation under the circumstances. "</p>
<p>Response: I would doubt that any institution would cancel this obligation without PROOF. Thus,the OP would have to have a hearing and prove their allegations. In fact, even if they can show incidence of bigotry, the school will simply say that these are just random occurances and that the school did everything they could to prevent such as hostile environment. </p>
<p>Bottom line: It would be a very uphill and expensive batter to cancel this obligation.</p>
<p>The OP can pay off the $2,000 with a summer job. The OP can also take next year as a gap year and work fulltime or do some volunteer work like Americorps, that pays a stipend plus about $4,700 that the OP can use for college. During the gap year, the OP can submit transfer applications.</p>
<p>I agree with you Northstarmom. I just think that part of what is tying this student to this college at this time is finances. The school's willingness to work with her and declare her independent for fa purposes is a factor. I can think of state schools where the student would be happier (where there are a good mix of Latino and African-American students)-- but they are expensive out-of-state and mom won't contribute. So I think if anyone knows of schools that are cheap (cheap as in she can work her way through them) and racially integrated, the OP may be a bit more willing to consider transferring.</p>
<p>DLP</p>
<pre><code>That Americorps stint as a gap year that Northstarmom mentioned,
</code></pre>
<p>that really is a good option--look into it.</p>
<p>I want to know why the OP can't go to college in her home state, Florida, which has some of the most affordable colleges in the country. I also would expect that a Florida native who could get a scholarship to an OOS public also would qualify for Bright Futures, the merit-based scholarships to Florida colleges that are available to Floridians.</p>
<p>I also notice that in state tuition to Florida community colleges is only about $65 per credit hour, fees that seem very doable for the OP even without loans. Many Florida public universities offer nice merit aid to in state students who transfer from Florida community college. One person whom I know (Hispanic, incidentally) who did that later got a post graduate fellowship to Harvard, and also was offered a teaching job (lecturer) at the Kennedy School. She was putting herself through college without any parental support.</p>
<p>Florida public universities also are very diverse.</p>
<p>Link to tuition info at Miami Dade Community College, the college where the person whom I referred to earlier attended: Tuition</a> & Fees - About MDC - Miami Dade College</p>
<p>Info on Americorps, which my S, 20, did last year during a gap year after high school. The money that he got helped with college costs. He also got excellent training including in grant writing, time management, and supervising volunteers. Had a job in which he had a great deal of responsibility, too. Feel free to contact me for more info.</p>
<p>"AmeriCorps is an opportunity to make a big difference in your life and in the lives of those around you. It’s a chance to apply your skills and ideals toward helping others and meeting critical needs in the community.</p>
<p>Each year, AmeriCorps offers 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Whether your service makes a community safer, gives a child a second chance, or helps protect the environment, you’ll be getting things done through AmeriCorps!</p>
<p>AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities all across America. As an AmeriCorps member, you can:</p>
<p>Tutor and mentor disadvantaged youth
Fight illiteracy
Improve health services
Build affordable housing
Teach computer skills
Clean parks and streams
Manage or operate after-school programs
Help communities respond to disasters
Build organizational capacity
Benefits of Service</p>
<p>As an AmeriCorps member, you’ll gain new skills and experiences—and you’ll also find the tremendous satisfaction that comes from helping others. In addition, full-time members who complete their service earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back qualified student loans; members who serve part-time receive a partial Award. Some AmeriCorps members may also receive a modest living allowance during their term of service."
[url=<a href="http://www.americorps.org/about/ac/index.asp%5DAmeriCorps%5B/url">http://www.americorps.org/about/ac/index.asp]AmeriCorps[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Thank you everyone for your advice, it really means a lot to me.</p>
<p>I've looked to Americrops as an option before, it's a great idea.</p>
<p>As for contacting Micheal Bealsey, I don't know if he experienced any racism but his gone now. NBA draft.</p>
<p>I think I might stick it out for another year since I’ve only been here a semester, I'm moving to a different dorm where maybe they won't be so passive handling issues of that sort or try to justify it with the whole "they come from a small town" because it doesn't make what they do right. Or my favorite is when they ignore what has happened and start talking about how this generation isn't as racist as their parents and grandparents, making my issue non-existent.</p>
<p>I met with the Dean of Students today and he is amazing. He apologized for what has happened but it isn't his fault. There's nothing anyone can do about racism, its something already impaled in their heads. He found some amazing jobs both off and on campus for me to apply for besides my interview tomorrow at Burger King for 10 bucks an hour. </p>
<p>I’ve always been turned off by my in-state Universities. I was going to attend Florida State and then decided on UF but It was expensive and their financial aid packages were not very good since I was still dependent on my mother and she makes to much for me to get enough aid to cover everything even though she doesn’t help me in any way. I’ve tried to become independent at Florida State but they just wouldn’t allow it so I gave up and applied else where. Ultimately, Florida state would be a little more expensive then K-state for me since the dorms are 6,000 odd dollars plus a meal plan. While here meal plans and room and board are all together and the most you will pay is about 4,100.</p>
<p>If I decide to stay here past next year, I am living off campus because its cheaper but next year I’m required to live in the dorms because I am part of a student organization that I am VERY interesting in doing and I’ve already been appointed to be on the exec board. Though I am a little afraid because I am the ONLY ethnic person on the exec board which isn’t an issue besides the “I come from a rich town and I treat people like I want” kid who is rude to a select group of people and I happen to be one of them. There’s also a lack of diversity in the student body representatives but than again there is only about a hand full of ethnic students who in the dorms and usually self-segregate.</p>
<p>Graduation was this past weekend, I wish I was amongst the students graduating for a million reasons. Relief to be the first person in my family with a degree, proving society wrong about first generation students and their success because of family influence and also being raised by a single mother, getting through these obstacles, starting a new chapter of my life. I can’t wait.</p>
<p>Northstarmom: The OP can pay off the $2,000 with a summer job. The OP can also take next year as a gap year and work fulltime or do some volunteer work like Americorps, that pays a stipend plus about $4,700 that the OP can use for college. During the gap year, the OP can submit transfer applications"</p>
<p>I guess that is an option, but it seems like a pretty tough sentence. Having to disrupt her academic career in order to escape racism seems particularly unfair.</p>
<p>I agree that the university letting her out of the $2000 obligation is unlikely, but I would still try. Perhaps someone there will realize that it is best for the student and the university to avoid a hearing (as another poster described). $2000 would be a cheap ticket for them to avoid all of this. If they have to get their legal people involved it will cost lots more.</p>
<p>The contractual nature of her agreement with the university has an implied requirement that the school will have an appropriate environment for her. It doesn't, and she should be relieved of the rest of her obligation.</p>
<p>Another option is to work out a payment plan. Perhaps they would allow her to repay the debt later on (after she graduates).</p>
<p>I think she should apply to other schools and keep going. If she is accepted and needs to wait to attend, the new school may allow her to do that.</p>
<p>I hope the OP will think creatively about this, and leave no stone unturned.</p>
<p>Though tranfering could be an option, I havent found a school that would be cheaper for me to make me independent like K-state has. I explained my situation about my mom and they just need a professionals letter saying so. Everywhere else I HAVE to be married or 24.</p>
<p>Did you qualify for Bright Futures?
What about going to community college in Fla. and the transferring to a 4-year Fla. public, where you probably could get merit aid if your grades are strong?</p>
<p>Hard for me to imagine that a Florida community college would cost you more than an out of state public.</p>
<p>In the beginning I didn't want to attend Community college because I wanted my mom to open her eyes and say "wow, my daughter is in college" and I felt like community college was just not good enough to prove to her that I was trying to do something for myself. Thats why I never went, she rambled on about her friends daughter who goes to UF, basically for free because she has so many scholarships.</p>
<p>I struggled alot through high school, because of issues at home and issues dealing with my self appearance and not wanting to be seen by anyone because all they did was put me down. I got over it my senior year and I still made it but my grades aren't exactly what they could of been.</p>
<p>I qualify for Bright Futures Gold because I completed the outlined courses for the PET program at my high school. (program of enviromental tech) which they have recently changed the name of.</p>
<p>I am wondering if Berea, which as I understand it does not charge tuition, would be an option. I have read many wonderful things about Berea -- including some here on CC -- and I think that they would appreciate a student who is determined to make it independently. Does anyone know how they handle transfer students?</p>
<p>It is terrible that your mom isn't supportive of your efforts to better yourself. However, I think that by bypassing Florida's community colleges, which are excellent affordable and be tickets to an affordable education at 4-year colleges, including UF, you are hurting yourself and it's unlikely that your decision will gain you the longed for respect from your mom because her feelings probably are more reflective of herself than of anything you're doing.</p>
<p>I also suggest that you look into getting counseling for yourself at whatever college you attend. That can help you develop more self confidence regardless of the actions of your mother or others. Typically counseling on college campuses is free or very low cost.</p>
<p>Wow, I looked up Berea and it's almost to good to be true. I have a friend sitting next to me and I grabbed his arm while I read (lol). That's amazing.</p>
<p>We have a counseling center here on campus, I went once. Every semester you get 4 sessions free and anything after is about 24.99 or something like that. There is also a mental health resource center over by the health center that offers different resources for students.</p>
<p>Dlp108 -</p>
<p>What is "program of enviromental tech"? Is that your interest area? Can you tell me a little about it?</p>
<p>You know, I think that if you have made the decision to stay, then great. Make it work. You sound like a kid with a good head on her shoulders and a strong heart. You'll find your way wherever you are. I do know, hoever that environments can hurt or help our performance. If you do stay, I hope that you can soar there.</p>
<p>I also know, however, that you can't know what a school will cost unless you apply and get the aid package. Some private schools can be surprising in their generosity (some public ones as well). I wonder if you could just try and apply to some places, to see what will happen (???).</p>