In a sticky situation at Knox

Parents Forum
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<p>Hey guys, so I know a lot of you have been following my "saga" over the years. I am not in the best situation (financial aid wise) right now. But first I would like to give you guys an update. This may be confusing for those who haven't been following my story:</p>

<p>So, I'm a freshman in college at Knox College in Galesburg, IL. I am from the suburbs of Atlanta. I had a REALLY bad term socially last trimester. I was thinking about transferring during winter break, but changed my mine. I am doing great academically. I got a 3.67 GPA last term (made the Dean's list) and should get around the same grades this term. I LOVE Knox academically. I plan on double majoring in Anthropology/Sociology and Theatre.</p>

<p>Socially, things have gotten a lot better. I made really two good friends this term, although, I'm no longer friends with one of them due to personal reasons. However, I am really close to the other girl. I also got my old job back and am working 7 hours a week (usually more though) and recently received "the most improved work ethic" award. Even though Knox isn't a perfect fit by any means, it has gotten better little by little. TBH, all I need is one or two close friends and I'm happy :)</p>

<p>Deep down though, I don't think it was the right school for me. I was planning on staying and still would like to stay, but there has been some financial issues about why I may not be able to. I have definitely realized I am more of a east coast person since moving here...I cannot see myself staying in the midwest after graduation! I also do plan on studying abroad my whole junior year, I am planning to go to Ireland for a semester and Australia (if I stay at Knox).</p>

<p>Okay, so Knox raised their tuition by $3,000 for next school year making it $48,00 a year. Knox has been having MAJOR endowment/financial problems. <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/knox-college/1454877-financial-aid.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/knox-college/1454877-financial-aid.html&lt;/a> (Please look at post #3 and feel free to read any of the articles)</p>

<p>She said in one article, "“You can go and request a reconsideration. This happens all the time,” Amott said in response to students who believed their need was assessed incorrectly. “What we are saying is that we’re not going to be able to meet the full amount of the increase. Some portion of it may fall on you, and I understand that some people may find that completely unacceptable, but I just have to say we have 1,400 students here, and somehow we have to manage to stretch the aid we have in as equitable a manner as we can across a number of people who have significant need.”"</p>

<p>Knox also cut benefits for professors retiring. I wish I knew about their financial problems before coming (had no idea). IMO, Knox is NOT worth 50k(ish) a year. Our facilities do not compare to the other schools I visited. In fact, a roof just fell off a dorm (no joke). They haven't built a new building in years. The new president (2nd school year) wants to increase the enrollment when my classes are already big enough (one has almost 30 kids)..not exactly small classes. There also isn't any more room (dorm wise) for more students. Current students have said that class sizes have gotten a lot bigger over the years. </p>

<p>Anyways, now here is the problem. My dad just met with the accountant and filled out our FASFA today. We already turned in the separate Knox financial aid application. My family is currently paying 8k a year, and I am taking an additional $7,500 a year. However, Knox does not meet full EFC as our EFC last year was a little less than 4k if I remember correctly. My dad is self employed and has his own business, so salary fluctuates year after year. Our new EFC for this year is almost $14,000 a year compared to the $4,000 last year. This is a major problem.</p>

<p>My dad did make a lot more money this year, but he has a lot of expenses and my parents have three other children (20, 16, and 3). I will be 19 next month. My older brother was going part time at a technical college, but took a semester off, but my little sister does go to Montessori which is expensive (my mom volunteers to make tuition cheaper). My mom is a teacher, but has stayed home since my sister was born. </p>

<p>Knox doesn't meet full EFC, so I am guessing it will even be more than 14k next year. My dad told me two weeks ago he can't even afford 15k, and I have a hutch Knox will want us to pay 20k next year. Even without our financial problems (more so problems for me as my parents are doing fine financially just not enough to pay 20k a year) we'd still have to pay more due to the tuition increase. To be honest, I think there is a bigger possibility for us to afford 14k EFC than 20k which is out of the question. And I doubt Knox will meet our EFC since they didn't last year and there having big money problems. My family can def afford our current package. Knox was one of the best financial aid packages in the first admissions process.</p>

<p>I was told by financial aid that students will not receive packages until early June. But then I realized that all transfer deadlines are way past due by then. What happens if I get my package in June and then Knox is no longer affordable? Most schools deadlines are now, past, or coming up, so I'd be stuck and have no where to go, but the local crappy 4 year college. All colleges deadlines are way before that. I did realize this before, but my nana told me to not to worry about it and that everything will work itself out, but then today I found out our new EFC and started to panic (it doesn't help that it is finals week) and called Knox's financial aid department. I told her my situation and asked if there was any way for an estimate, and she told me she'll try to give me one by the first week of April. She told me to look at the special circumstances form, but I don't think we have any, but we could put that my parents pay for my sister's Montessori.</p>

<p>I repeat I do not want to transfer, but I DO NOT want to end up in a situation where I'll have no options. It's better to think about the worst, so I can be prepared. I really love the trimester system and my classes and do not want to go though, and I'm finally beginning to build connections with people. So, what do you think I should do? Should I apply and transfer or just wait for the estimate if she ever gives me one (sounded uncertain)? My dad hung up on me when I told him he may have to pay 20k next year. If I don't apply anywhere, I may end up as a college drop out b/c we cannot afford Knox anymore. </p>

<p>I just have no idea where I would transfer. I really do not want to go back to Georgia, but would consider the Northeast or Florida. I am considering applying to UGA (would not require SAT scores for first year transfer), but I am not sure if I would still get the Hope Scholarship? Our old accountant told us her daughter went to a state school in VA and wanted to take a summer class at a local community college, but Perimeter considered her D to be an our of state student even though she was a Georgia resident & so was the mom. So, I'm not sure even though I'm a resident and got over a 3.0 academic GPA in high school that I can still get Hope, but nonetheless, I think I would hate a big state school. I personally love a liberal arts education and the "different" classes offered here. I def am not taking the same classes my friends in-state are taking! I also like the smaller class sizes even though they aren't that small compared to other LACs. I fell in love with Sociology since being here and will have taken 3 classes for theatre/sociology at the end of this year.</p>

<p>Although, I do feel like Knox can be very clique-y and I do not fit in, but I think the clique-y problem is a small school problem more so. Even my tour guide who I loved (why I picked Knox) agreed with me. If you guys think I should transfer, where would you suggest that is still accepting applications and will still be for a while? I told my advisor and she suggested I not transfer unless I go to a better academic school. She told me not to go down in prestige. I really would like a small LAC (but maybe more so 2-3k students) in the northeast with a very open curriculum that has few general ed requirements like Knox but even more so (have to take a year of French here). The only school I'd love to apply to is New College of Florida, but the deadline was last month.</p>

<p>Also, cannot submit my SAT scores as they were terrible. Not looking for a preppy, athletic, or hippie college. I describe Knox as nerdy, hippie, and very athletic..and I don't fit into the general categories (not saying everyone does). Just looking somewhere more mainstream artsy. Also, not in the middle of no where (very expensive to fly and get to Knox). My other top choices last time were Clark and Wheaton in Mass, but Wheaton was 3k more to begin with, while Clark was 1k more. I applied to over 10 CTCL's and got into all of them, although some of their packages were terrible. Like I said, Knox was one of the best options financially the first time. I would still really like to study abroad a whole year junior year transfer or not. I do not want to take more loans as I am already taking 7.5k and will already be 30k in debt when I graduate. I have a friend at Roanoke College who is taking 25k a year in loans..and that's crazy!</p>

<p>But like I said, I don't want to transfer, but this is just my sticky situation. Any feedback? Sorry for the very long (understatement) post.</p>

<p>Early_college</p>

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<p>My oldest attended a small expensive private college ( albeit one that met full need).
Quite a few students needed to transfer out after freshmen or sophomore year because of money problems.
Either they couldn’t afford to continue or their plans for grad school would take a hit.</p>

<p>What are your affordable choices?</p>

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<p>With regard to the special circumstances form, your dad needs to write to Knox financial aid department explaining that his income this past year was not typical and will not be the same next year, and that they need to take that into account when looking at the new EFC.</p>

<p>I would not go through all of the work and expense to fill out transfer applications now, unless you have a clearly affordable choice, likely in Georgia. You don’t want to go out of the frying pan into the fire by sending applications all over the northeast. Focus on your classes and see what the financial aid office estimates for your family contribution, next month.</p>

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<p>I think UGA would be my best in-state option, but I do not how affordable it would be without the Hope Scholarship. I also have a 10k scholarship at Knox, which I have every year, so the starting price is at 28k. I also did have quite a bit of grants this year (not Perkins though). </p>

<p>The thing is my dad’s company is fairly new (founded 2009) and he got hit hard by the bad economy, so his income should continue to increase year after year. I don’t think there is ever a “typical” year because it just depends if he had a good or bad year. For all I know, it could be more next year or less (who knows).</p>

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</p>

<p>Try this: [VSA</a> Cost Estimator](<a href=“http://www.collegeportraits.org/GA/UGA/estimator/agree]VSA”>http://www.collegeportraits.org/GA/UGA/estimator/agree)</p>

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<p>Thanks! But I just noticed it states the following on the UGA admission website: “Sophomore Transfers: Have 30-59 semester hours of transferable credit by the application deadline”</p>

<p>At Knox, one only takes three classes per term and one class = one credit. Everything is different here since it’s on a trimester system. It does not make sense if one needs 30 credit hours to be a sophomore transfer student when that takes two semesters for any freshman to do. It says that “Must have at least one complete year of full-time college enrollment resulting in 30 or more transferable hours by the transfer application deadline to be considered for transfer admission to the University of Georgia.” Also, the deadline is April 1st. So, I don’t think UGA would work then. </p>

<p>Also, seniors have told me that a lot of credits at Knox may not transfer, since we have a weird system aka the 3-3 calendar. They told me if you’re going to transfer that one should transfer sooner rather than later.</p>

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<p>EC, first of all, congratulations on your strong GPA – its wonderful that you have found a good fit academically, and that is the most important thing. College is only 4 years of your life – you have many, many years after that to live in whatever city or country you choose, make new friends, etc. </p>

<p>As to the rest: these are the problems that dog students EVERYWHERE. My d. had the same exact experience at Barnard: loved the academics, socially did not fit in and made only a handful of close friends over the years, and EVERY SINGLE YEAR was huge stress waiting for a financial aid award that wasn’t issued until June, knowing that if the award came up short she wouldn’t be able to attend. That is simply the world all student from middle class families relying on financial aid need to deal with, especially with a self employed parent. It doesn’t help if the school meets “full need”, because that is still “full need” as the school defines it – my daughter’s share of costs at Barnard was always at least $10K over and above her FAFSA EFC, and she qualified for Pell grants two of her four years there (meaning EFC has to be pretty low). </p>

<p>Here is my advice: You are doing everything right, EXCEPT there is no need to argue with your Dad about money when you don’t yet have an award. Just tell him that you are worried about the aid package and leave it at that until you have actual numbers from the school. Fill out the special circumstance form & note that your family’s income varies from year to year. I don’t know that it will help, but it can’t hurt to tell them everything you have told us.</p>

<p>It is TOO LATE to transfer for the coming school year, and transferring won’t solve your problems. Even colleges that are need-blind and offer so-called “full need” for entering students may not offer the same to transfer students. Instead I think you should focus your energies on lining up paid work for the summer, to maximize your income. (Things might have changed, but I think you can earn about $4000 before any of it starts to impact financial aid for the following year). Maybe you can work for your Dad-- I know that is not what you want to do, but at least that’s a potential job and something that might make your dad feel more comfortable about stretching to pay for year #2 at college. </p>

<p>IF you can’t swing it financially for year #2, the best option is to probably take a leave from Knox, but hang onto your spot, and find a full time job- if they will let you keep your merit money when you return. Essentially a gap year. You can also use that time to explore other options and apply as transfer for to another school for the 2014-2015 school year. But keep in mind that things will only get worse for that year, as your income will push up your EFC. You may be financially better off to spend more money than your family can afford for year #2, with the realization that you may have to transfer in year #3 or #4.</p>

<p>How does study abroad work for Knox? Do you have to pay Knox tuition while you are abroad? Or can you save money by opting for a program that charges significantly less than Knox? And if you do that, would you be eligible for financial aid from Knox, or would you have to finance the year abroad entirely on your own? (Don’t look it up and tell us – we don’t have to know – just check into these things for yourself). </p>

<p>Unfortunately, a college education is a very expensive thing these days. I think that it is still better to stick with what you’ve got because my guess is that if you leave school you may not be able to afford to come back for a long time, and that is going to impact your earning capacity. That is, you may have to dig deep to pay to complete college in 4 years, but in year 5 with a Bachelor’s degree you are likely to get a better paying job than you will if you quit college for financial reasons and have to find a job without a degree. If your Dad’s business is improving, that might be the best for him as well: bite the bullet, pay whatever it takes so that you can complete your education, knowing that it will only get more expensive in the future.</p>

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<p>Knox is on tri-mesters (also known as quarters) one year on that system comes to about 45 quarter hours which would be the equivalent if 30 semester hours. In other words you will have enough credits to transfer. Just like when you are in HS, you apply for transfer without having finished the whole year. Since you expect (and almost certainly will) to complete a full year at Knox, you would apply as a sophomore transfer.</p>

<p>If you find out very late in the game that your aid package is unaffordable, there is nothing wrong with taking a semester or a year off while you sort out your options. Don’t feel that you must race through any transfer applications just yet.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the comments! Calmom, I’ve definitely missed your advice :)</p>

<p>I actually remembering you telling me this last year. I agree with you 100% like usual. I guess I didn’t realize how much of an issue this really would be. Knox is definitely a great academic fit…social fit not so much. But you know what? That’s okay. I have learned so much already here. I literally cried every Friday night last term (parents still have no idea), but haven’t this term, so that in itself is an accomplishment. This financial stuff just stresses the heck out of me…more than my parents realize! </p>

<p>I only argued with my dad twice about it. I was trying to tell my mother earlier today and heard him a background saying “HELLOOOO GEORGIA STATE SCHOOL”. He was just doing it to get under my skin. I did look at the special circumstances form and we don’t qualify for any of the situations, so I don’t know. Maybe I can have him call Knox.</p>

<p>What you say makes sense happymomof1, but on this website: <a href=“https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/admission-information-for-transfer-students.html[/url]”>https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/admission-information-for-transfer-students.html&lt;/a&gt;
it states in bold that one needs 30 credits by the transfer APPLICATION deadline. Wouldn’t it say that you need 30 credits by the time you start in the fall if that’s true? At Knox, one has 9 credits at the end of the year (3 per term). It doesn’t make any sense. Again I believe what you’re saying, but what I quoted was in bold. </p>

<p>But also, I am flying home Friday right after my final. So, winter term is over. I think the deadline passed to get the transcript before the term is over. I will be home 10 days, so I could definitely have enough time to apply, but I don’t know what I’d do if UGA requires recommendations by professors. They’ll never have enough time to do it. But I do know <em>deep down</em> I would hate UGA both academically and socially. But if I have to go to a state school in GA…there really isn’t many options. Calmom, what do you think of this possibility of applying to UGA? Yes, I have a shortened time, but I could finish it during spring break if possible. But you know I really don’t want to go there. I could apply as a back up. I could call UGA and ask to clarify their requirements for me. I think UGA would be affordable if I got Hope (which I don’t know if I could still get). </p>

<p>This is how study abroad works at Knox: You pay the same exact balance when you study abroad. So, yes your financial aid does stay the same. It’s like you’re paying for Knox, but you’re abroad. The only thing else you have to pay for is the plane ticket and living expenses. I have already been saving up to study abroad. I didn’t want anything but money for Christmas, so I could put it towards studying abroad. I already have 2k in my checking from work/saving up to go towards my study abroad. I REALLY want to go a year and I’m willing to save for it which I’m doing. In fact, I used all my saved money to go on a cruise with my nana and to go to France, so I know I can do this too! </p>

<p>I was actually thinking about getting an internship in Atlanta this summer. I have been looking at different internships for a while now. However, it is an hour away WITHOUT traffic and I wouldn’t get paid…doubt I’d get a stipend. It just doesn’t make sense, so I was planning in getting a local job when I get home in June and use that money to save for the study abroad. I also plan on using my bday money and xmas this year for it as well. Australia and Ireland are both expensive. I want to study abroad at Trinity College Dublin and U Melbourne. However, if I need my summer money to go towards tuition then fine, but I don’t think it will come to that (who knows though). </p>

<p>Actually this was my back up plan if I do not apply anywhere else. I could go to Georgia Gwinnett College for a semester (or Kennessaw, GA State, etc) who have later deadlines and then go to UGA for the 2014 spring semester. Or maybe I could go to Armstrong Atlantic for a semester and enjoy the beach haha. I do not think it would have to come to me taking a year off. I’d go to a community college before that would happen. I’m just not in a point in my life where I can see myself doing something very productive with a gap year after freshman year. </p>

<p>Also, my dad’s income improved significantly. I think it is around 30-40k increase, but not sure. So, if he continues to do this good…it may hurt me in the long run! Because I cannot see him ever paying 20k or more for my tuition. You know I am a BIG planner calmom, so this is stressing me out to the max. </p>

<p>I never told you this, but my dad HATES Knox so much. As soon as I got off the plane, my mom and baby sister were wearing Knox t-shirts and the first thing he says is “When are you transferring?” It had NOTHING to do with finances because he could afford it fine then (November). He just hates the Midwest/the middle of no where! But seriously I have to take a 3 hour train ride and subway just to get to the airport because Peoria/Moline cost $300 one way VS $110 from Midway. The cons of going to a school in the middle of cornfields… I also have a younger brother (sophomore) and he wants him to go to UGA…and I KNOW he would love it if I went there (tuition wise and he loves the school).</p>

<p>BTW- did your D ever have a “back up” plan?</p>

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<p>Re: <a href=“https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/admission-information-for-transfer-students.html[/url]”>https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/admission-information-for-transfer-students.html&lt;/a&gt; and 30 credit hours by application deadline</p>

<p>Yes, that’s weird. The application deadline is April 1 for the coming fall semester, which leaves most potential transfer applicants a few weeks short of having their spring courses and grades recorded at their current colleges. Other schools specify a number of credits to be completed by the time one transfers, including in-progress courses.</p>

<p>If read literally, it looks like you would have to wait out a semester (or attend a community college during that time) and apply for a later term (deadline for next spring is September 1). You may want to call them and verify what they really mean.</p>

<p>It is possible that they just want to be able to see a year’s worth of college grades to make a transfer admission decision on.</p>

<p>One question is, do you have any AP, IB, or other credit from high school? If so, and it adds up to at least 10 credit hours according to <a href=“https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/college-credit-from-testing-and-joint-enrollment.html[/url]”>https://www.admissions.uga.edu/article/college-credit-from-testing-and-joint-enrollment.html&lt;/a&gt; , that may be another possible way to be eligible if they really mean 30 credit hours by April 1. Call and ask if that works.</p>

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<p>Hon, you want to get a summer job, but you are going to wait till you get home to look?
Start looking now, using whatever connections you can.</p>

<p>If you don’t know how you are going to cover your schooling, why are you still planning to study abroad?
That seems like a luxury at this point.
You saved money to go on a cruise * and to go to France*? Is travel your priority or a degree?</p>

<p>Ive been reading your various threads and my general thought is that you are very young, and could benefit a great deal from taking time off- earning more money to put towards your expenses, not travel & if you showed more appreciation for what your parents have done for you already, perhaps they would help you transfer to a school you can afford.</p>

<p>( although I am not sure why you didn’t do that in the first place)</p>

<p>And this?

Seriously?
She have any ideas about schools you can afford as a transfer student or are you going to stick with your current plan of trying to get more out of your parents than they want to spend?</p>

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<p>Yes, UGA’s website is totally confusing. It doesn’t make sense at all, but the thing is Knox doesn’t end until the beginning of June, so it would be 2 months later when our term ends. Also, after this term ends, I will have six credits because one class = one credit, and I only take three classes per term which is why it is called a 3-3 calendar (3 terms/3 classes). I got two credits for APUSH at Knox, but I know at UGA I would get credit for APUSH and AP Human Geography (didn’t get it at Knox though). Either way that’s still just two credits.</p>

<p>I don’t have any connections. I never had a job back home, but I have one here. I just want to be a cashier at a store, so it is too early to apply now. Most of the summer jobs that are hiring now seem to be jobs at public pools. </p>

<p>1) I went on a cruise when I was 16 and went to France when I was 17…I wasn’t in college yet. </p>

<p>2) I have shown great appreciation for my parents, thank you. They know how much Knox means to me. However, I’m taking out as much in loans (almost) as they are paying, so we’re paying about the same in the long run (for now anyways). </p>

<p>3) I obviously picked Knox because we could afford it, but things obviously change every year. It’s a problem with people who own their own business. The income fluctuates. We do not know if we can afford Knox yet, but I am just worrying based on the EFC…things aren’t looking good. However, I’ll remain optimistic. My parents do not give me money at all for living expenses. I pay for that myself with my job. I know a lot of people here whose parents give them weekly allowances, which they just buy drugs/alcohol with. They have no jobs. That’s what I call leaches. Trust me if you don’t think I am “appreciative”, you have no idea how other kids my age are…</p>

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<p>[UGA</a> AP Credit Equivalencies | Office of the Registrar](<a href=“http://www.reg.uga.edu/creditFromTesting/advancedPlacement/uga_ap_credit_equivalencies]UGA”>UGA AP Credit Equivalences | Credit From Testing | Students | Office of the Registrar) indicates that AP US history and AP human geography are each worth 3 semester credit hours if you have a score of 3 or 4, and 6 semester credit hours if you have a score of 5.</p>

<p>It is likely that each course from Knox is equivalent to 5 quarter credit hours, so your 6 completed courses so far make up 30 quarter credit hours, which is equivalent to 20 semester credit hours. So if you have 5 scores on both of those AP tests, you will have 32 semester credit hours from UGA’s perspective without counting this current quarter.</p>

<p>You may want to call UGA to see if they are strict about having 30 completed semester credit hours by April 1, and whether AP credit can count toward those 30.</p>

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<p>

Not in college. We just were going to deal with things as they came up. I was very stressed out, but there was no point “planning” for a problem that hadn’t yet surfaced. </p>

<p>

It sounds like you are pulling your own weight & I really don’t see things getting better in terms of college costs if your dad is simply earning more. If he has more money and your older brother is no longer attending college, then the EFC goes up. </p>

<p>I know that you are stressed out and I understand why, but try to wait until you have actual numbers and then see if you can work with your family, including your mom & grandmother, to come up with a plan. </p>

<p>You may have to put your savings toward costs next year instead of study abroad. My daughter did a lot of traveling in college (mostly on her own dime) – but she wasn’t saving up a year in advance. She would just work extra hard during the semester before she was set to travel. She had the advantage of being in a big city (with plenty of part time employment opportunities), and also having a credit card – so I’m not saying the same will work for you. It’s just that if you have two important goals, and one is coming sooner than the other, and your resources are limited, you will end up having to pay for the goal that comes sooner first, even if that will mean giving up on the 2nd goal. </p>

<p>I know that is frustrating, but life is like that. You probably aren’t going to be able to study abroad your junior year at the programs that interest you if you don’t attend Knox for your sophomore year, so holding onto those savings may cost you both goals. I may be mistaken and maybe you need to look at what study abroad options might be available at UGA… but it’s tough for a transfer student to manage a full year abroad.</p>

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<p>Your EFC will be higher if your brother is not enrolled in technical school. Was it calculated in the past based on 2 family members enrolled in school?</p>

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<p>A friend of D’s has a transfer application to UGA in process. It sounds confusing. If you’re interested in pursuing this I recommended contacting the office at UGA and speaking to a human, ASAP. Relying on the website for information in this case might not be a safe plan.</p>

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<p>My D went to a school which meets need and I was a nervous wreck every year until the financial aid statement came out each summer. I think this is something everyone who relies on need based financial aid goes through. For reasons out of our control our income and children in college fluctuated every year so I wasn’t positive how things would turn out.</p>

<p>D had a friend who did not come back at the last moment due to aid. She stayed home for a semester worked and took classes at her local CC. She transferred to her state flagship the next semester. You know what, she survived and loved the change. It was a much better fit in the end and she made friends, something that didn’t really happen at her first school.</p>

<p>Also my S travels every week for business. He lives in a suburb of a large Midwestern city ;). Every week he takes a bus for two hours to the airport. And does the same thing at the end of the week. Every. Single. Week. </p>

<p>Try to stay calm and as much as you want you are not able to predict how Know is going to structure your aid package. If it doesn’t work out and you have to change course, that is how it will be.</p>

<p>Maybe your Dad is stressed out also and maybe he doesn’t like Knox is because he misses you so much and wants you closer. Dads don’t always know how to express themselves.</p>

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<p>Some difficult advice from another parent:</p>

<p>“Love the one you’re with”: no college is a perfect fit, and often our social problems are also a reflection of who we are, so perhaps it’s time for some “self-reflection/self-love” too. Try to find a club or organization, or even an academic interest, that you can whole-heartedly invest yourself. Consider college as a forerunner to a “job-experience”; often in workplace we’re also not necessarily content, but make do with what we have.</p>

<p>DS’ list included Knox, we visited, and I researched it too. Yes, there are financial budgetary and endowment problems at Knox. But Knox is a great, albeit quirky, and well-loved school, and with its new president, it may more actively recruit alumni and benefactors. Regardless of the tuition hike, you still have an excellent financial-aid package that you’re unlikely to replicate at another school. As a transfer candidate, you’re unlikely to receive a decent financial aid package, period, and merit aid is unlikely too.</p>

<p>Having read some of your prior posts, I’d agree that a big Georgia State U is an unlikely “good fit” for you. Don’t know the tuition structure in Georgia, but here in Illinois there’s either expensive and highly-selective UIUC, or inferior but more affordable land-grant colleges - slim pickings.</p>

<p>If the financials are a serious problem, consider taking an official leave-of-absence, and work for tuition money elsewhere. (I know that Galesburg itself is an unlikely source of employment.) If you’re motivated enough, the life-experience of a full-time “HS grad”-level job can be as valuable as a school term on-campus, even if it’s menial work, and you will return to campus a more emotionally-mature person. (Because non-regotiable aspects and expectations of full-time work do “mature” most of us, and make us realize that “compromise” is an intrinsic element of adult-life.)</p>

<p>Best wishes. It’s brave of you to post here at CC, when anonymous folks can be harsh at times.</p>

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<p>EC, I’ve been following your saga from its very beginning. I’m sorry that things haven’t gone as smoothly as you hoped. </p>

<p>Calmom is such an expert in these matters that I defer to her advice. My immediate impression is that you should try to stay at Knox if you can. My immediate advice is to work as many jobs as you possibly can this summer. If you need to work 80 hours a week, do it. You don’t want to get an internship that looks good on a resume, you need to earn as much money as you possibly can.</p>

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<p>I think you could still be eligible for HOPE if you were eligible when you graduated high school.</p>

<p><a href=“https://secure.gacollege411.org/financial_aid_planning/hope_program/georgia_s_hope_scholarship_program_overview.aspx[/url]”>https://secure.gacollege411.org/financial_aid_planning/hope_program/georgia_s_hope_scholarship_program_overview.aspx&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Figuring this out will at least give you piece of mind as you work through this process.</p>