<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>If the student will be paying for transportation to and from home, I'd say no.</p>
<p>I'd say that, if your parents are paying, they can impose any limitations they want to. To me, the word "fair" doesn't really apply. It may be unwise, but I can't see its being unfair.</p>
<p>If you are planning on paying your way go wherever you want.;-)</p>
<p>Of course the parents "can" do it, but I don't think they should. If it's because of finances (IE, flying to the east coast/a rural little town is expensive) then they have the right. But if it's because they feel uncomfortable for you to go out of state--then no.</p>
<p>geography is at the bottem of the list when I consider a school
how many kids have to pay for their own way these days? Isn't that borderline impossible, since schools assume your parents are paying for you when they calculate EFC?</p>
<p>I'd estimate half the students in college today are paying all or most of their costs including fin aid. Many parents can't or won't pay. Think of all the poor kids in big cities, kids in rural areas with no money, etc.</p>
<p>If the parents are contributing to the costs, they have every right to make geographical limitations. In such a scenario, I think it's a bit selfish for the kids to complain. After all, their parents are doing them a huge favor by helping to finance their education.</p>
<p>It depends. Do you plan on having your parents take you to school, visit you at school, bring you home? Do they have the time, money and flexibility of schedule to allow them to do these things? Are the schools that are farther away attractive to you for certain reasons?</p>
<p>I'm just playing devil's advocate here.</p>
<p>My oldest son went to college in Atlanta and my middle son is at college in Denver; we live in central Ohio. Distance was not a factor in my sons'/our family's decision; but location was in that each of the boys wanted to go to school in a large city for various reasons.</p>
<p>But we are not all families. What are your parents' reasons for their position, and what are the reasons for yours? An open and adult discusion of the whys and wherefores might be helpful for you.</p>
<p>If they're paying then no, they should be able to limit you geographically. </p>
<p>And many students, including many students that go to my school and my parents, DO work throughout high school and college in order to pay there own way through.</p>
<p>Geography should not be a factor. Limitations should never be imposed based on geography. Its stupid because if the parents are already financing the education then the transportation costs are not that much comparatively. Also, if a child is forced to stay within a certain region then they may not go to the school best suited for them and realize their potential. That would be a waste of the money the parents are already spending on college. I hate arbitrary restrictions from parents... luckily I don't have that issue but for those who do- best of luck.</p>
<p>How about the restriction to stay within the country?</p>
<p>ConLax, can I assume that you're a student? How long do you think it takes to earn, after taxes, an extra $1000, above and beyond necessities? What would you be willing to give up to finance the travel plans?</p>
<p>parents pay, parents choose</p>
<p>A round trip from East Coast to West Coast (for Thanksgiving) is $497. So I think you could fairly easily earn next summer, whatever it takes to make the location a non-issue. Just don't plan to come home to visit between Sept and June unless you earn more.</p>
<p>Mixed reaction - I'm a parent, and I'm encouraging my D to apply wherever she finds schools that suit her. I'm comfortable it's a reasonable decision for her - she's comfortable on her own, she's good in new situations, and we can swing the extra travel cost.</p>
<p>But taking a hypothetical -let's say she wanted to apply to a school that is in a remote part of lightly populated state (Montana, Idaho, etc. you get the idea). She's more of a city person, and I fear this would be a bad choice for her - she would get bored and lonely in such a place. As a parent, and especially as a parent who's actually paying for the college, do I have the right to veto this remote school? I'd argue I do, though my first choice would be to try to have her see what my concerns are.</p>
<p>Try asking your parents why they are so concerned with the distance.</p>
<p>One surprising answer may be that they are thinking about how much they will miss you. A lot of parents have a hard time letting go.</p>
<p>They may be worried about you, about what would happen if you got sick or got in an accident. Or they may think there's a great school just up the street, and you should just go there.</p>
<p>It's at least worth asking.</p>
<p>Think about it this way - let's say your parents were going to buy you a car, and were even going to pay the insurance and for the gas. Would it surprise you that they have opinions on what type of car you got, whether it was a safe car, got good gas mileage, etc.?</p>