<p>Okay, my parents and I don't really see eye to eye on the whole college situation. I have good stats, am a nm semi finalist, and have really good ec's. I want to go to a smaller private school, not the 30,000+ public school nearby. However they wont pay for any of my application fees to any other schools and if i decide to go to a private school, I will have to take out a lot of student loans because they want me to go to the place that i can get a full ride. They don't really care that i probably won't like it there that much. Is it worth it to go to an ivy or a top 25 school and put myself into debt? Also is there any way i can get some sort of fee waivers for applications? I already have one for Cornell but is there any way to explain this to other schools? I have a job but I work minimum wage and have to use that money for school activities, gas, food, etc. I had planned on applying to about 8 schools and the only one i have paid for is Stanford's so far. Any advice is appreciated.</p>
<p>First of all, eight schools is far too much: you'll end up forking over around $560 in application fees alone. </p>
<p>Secondly, will you have a chance of being a "favored student" at the public institution, e.g., will the faculty bend over backwards to keep you at their school? </p>
<p>As for fee waivers, your counselor can issue one, but I think that some colleges will only accept waivers particular to their institution. </p>
<p>In reference to your job, are most of your wages going towards paying for your gas and car insurance? If so, your time may potentially be spent better elsewhere, if not, do yourself a favor and start investing that money.</p>
<p>Debt is bad- remember this. No manner of education is worth shakling yourself to monthly payments. Yes, an education is an investment, similar to a house or small business, but the most important thing is that you went to college, not where you actually attended. If you are looking towards professional degrees, a smaller or less-able student body could help you shine in the admissions process.</p>
<p>You might look at your college app list carefully with an eye toward merit scholarship possibilities (I don't think the ones you've mentioned so far offer much). You can find a good small LAC which will offer some good merit $, allowing you to borrow significantly less. My D and I had a discussion about the cost difference between a top-notch school and another very good school. Is the difference in education between the two institutions worth $100K+ of debt? Fortunately, she and I agree on the answer.</p>
<p>blah, i'm in the same situation, i know exactly how you feel.</p>
<p>Even if you go into big debt, your parents will have to cosign. No bank will give an 18 year old with no assets big loans. So make sure they will before you go through all the trouble.</p>
<p>While most here will tell you it's not worth it, i would say just consider what you will be doing after college and how hard the loans will be to pay on your projected salary. If you plan to be a teacher, don't go into big debt. If you can get into a top college and plan to be an investment banker, more dbt could be appropriate. Ny boss borrowed $60K to go to Harvard and paid it bank in full with his bonus his first year out.</p>
<p>yah.. i can get your problem... we have far worse condition being international students...</p>
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Ny boss borrowed $60K to go to Harvard and paid it bank in full with his bonus his first year out.
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<p>coool!!!! but not everyone's so lucky!!</p>
<p>Happiness is a point of view and tends to be a character trait. It's not dependent on what college you go to. This opinion is based on research that has found that people who win large amounts in lotteries are briefly happier than others. Afterward, their level of happiness returns to what it was before their win.</p>
<p>If you want to go to a private school, you can:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Earn the $ to pay for your applications. Get a job or dip into your savings account. Sell your Gameboy or other things if you are desperate. It's your dream. Sacrifice to obtain it. In general, colleges will not give fee waivers to students whose families can afford the application fees.</p></li>
<li><p>Comb the bushes for merit aid including scholarships given locally. If you're good enough to consider applying to Stanford, with diligence, you should be able to rack up merit aid.</p></li>
<li><p>Apply to second tier private colleges and private colleges where you'd add regional diversity, and make sure those college offer generous merit aid that you could qualify for. Show interest. Send a cover letter letting them knonw that because you want to attend a small private college, you would go to their college if you're given merit aid.</p></li>
<li><p>Be willing to take out loans. The average college student takes out a total of $20,000 to pay for college. </p></li>
<li><p>Be willing to work 60 hours a week during the summer and 10-20 hours a week during the school year to attain your dream.</p></li>
<li><p>Consider attending the honors college of a state university or living in a living community (themed dorm) in a public university. Many public universities offer such options particularly to top students. Google to find some to apply to, but realize that some such programs have early deadlines.</p></li>
<li><p>Finally, realize that your parents earned their money and it's theirs to do what they wish. You can be angry about this or you can make your own future. If your parents won't pay for private colleges, you're wasting your time to apply to places like Cornell and Stanford that lack merit aid.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>For the record, I was in a similar situation as you when I was a h.s. senior. My dad was a dentist who said he had no money for me to go to college. I had worked every summer since turning 16, the legal age that one could work in my state. I also was working as a store cashier during the school year. I ended up getting need-based financial aid from Harvard -- probably because I had such a track record of working that they believed me that my dad wouldn't pay. My mother also gave me money from her job as a secretary.</p>
<p>However, I did work 10-30 hours a week during the school year, and worked up to 60 hours a week during the summer. I stayed at school -- working temp jobs -- during times like spring break. I didn't have summer vacation trips. I also took out loans, which I paid off on time. </p>
<p>Was it worth it to me? Heck, yes. Anyway, I'm proof that you have a choice: Curse your fate or take on the sweat work to do something about it.</p>
<p>NSM has outlined basics that I have found to be very true.</p>
<p>I wish I had some of that wisdom after high school- when after my father died- my mother told me- I had a $1000 life insurance policy that I could either use for college or a car. Since the thought of college had never crossed my mind before & since I was walking or biking to school & to work ( or hitchhiking- don't do this) I spent it on a car ( my earnings had been going toward my expenses like clothing- & entertainment)
You have many more choices and resources than I did. I had no idea, that as a student with only one parent, I could have gotten financial aid to attend college * and that I could have put social pressure on my mother to help*.
You will be an adult soon & while it is disappointing that your parents arent more supportive- you have already shown initiative in working and paying for many of your expenses & that will serve you well in making the most out of your experience after high school.</p>
<p>I would also say- that I don't think 8 schools is too many to apply to.
Not if they are carefully chosen to give you breadth of choices.
My daughter only applied to 4 schools senior year and 5 schools after she took a year off- and while she liked her schools etc- the application fees for colleges are nothing compared to college expenses & if it can open up an opportunity for merit/need aid, it is more than worth it.</p>
<p>Our family did commit to paying the full EFC & we were lucky enough to find a private school that met 100% of need ( many don't) but if we hadn't, she was more than happy to attend an instate school that had some merit aid.
Also- I am a big booster of the reciprocal agreements that most states have with surrounding states. We found that there are many good schools that her sister could attend, where we only have to pay 50% more than instate tuition.
Depending on where you are, you could have some very affordable choices and still be able to go out of state.</p>
<p>You don't give info on your family's financial situation. They can be scraping by to a point where you could be eligible for a good financial aid package that bring your self help amount to be manageable. If you are getting fee waivers, you may be in that category. If you fill out one of the on line calculators for aid with them, they may see that a private school could be an affordable option. If, however, you are not in that situation, and it comes down to them simply refusing to pay, you need to come up with strategies of your own similar to those given by NSM. And you have to make the determination as to whether it would be worthwhile. Sometime what you thing is worthwhile in the future does not turn out that way, and a large school may not be as terrible as you think for you. You might even like it. There is always a risk element to your decisions, and if it includes a private college, that risk can cost a fortune. </p>
<p>Unlike some of the other posters, I don't think 8 schools are too many if you are trying to get a top financial aid package as results can vary. In fact for those trying to maximize aid, 8 schools is not very many. Especially if you are mix and matching merit and need money, as it really adds uncertainties to the situation. You have your safety school, it seems. Now you can apply to your "shoot for the stars" school and funding, and the money and time you can apply to this endeavor should be your limiting factors. There is a point of diminishing returns in the number of apps to send out and it does differ from person to person. Without a parent to help, it is your job to keep apps organized, and all info straight. Not easy, but if you are determined and organized, it can be done.</p>
<p>I needed full aid. I asked my counselor for waivers and applied for scholarships and financial aid. I'm at Hopkins now, all expenses except plane fare covered. Incidentally, I applied to 10 schools. And I got 15k from an outside scholarship, 36 from the school, and 1 from Wal*Mart. (sorry to all of those who hate Walmart.) I waived SAT, AP, and ACT fees (the AP fees were considerable. 90 * 14?) I'm much happier at Hopkins than I would have been at Berkeley (which offered to only charge me 8k),... I not only actually SEE my professors during lecture, but I can talk to them out of class and stuff. I understand why I'm paying the equivalent of $100 per lecture. They're... awesome. Much better than what my counselor was suggesting, which was community college.</p>