Mom plans on moving to another state while I attend state university - please help!

College Life
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<p>My mom's been offered a position in Las Vegas and is flying in for an interview this coming Wednesday. She was given the invitation earlier this month and will be asked to relocate to Nevada if accepted: she's currently living in Illinois with her husband, mother, and children, i.e. with my stepdad, my grandma, my half-sister, and myself.</p>

<p>She wants me to transfer to the University of Nevada - Las Vegas knowing that I've already been admitted to the University of Illinois - Chicago. I've vocalized my indignation about this to her, but she laughs it off and continues searching for picturesque Nevada houses online.</p>

<p>I qualify for residency (because of "family relocation to the state", courtesy of UNLV's official website) and will save my parents approximately $3000 in annual tuition: ~$1500 a semester at UNLV via their tuition calculator compared to ~$3000 a semester at UIC via their tuition table. And that's the only aspect I can concede.</p>

<p>In terms of academics, I'm most concerned about UNLV accepting transfer credits from "regionally accredited institutions" because Illinois isn't within Nevada's vicinity and my community college classes might not even be recognized. According to the latest university rankings, UNLV is one whole tier lower than UIC, which makes me very anxious about my grad-school prospects. My major will be Electronic Visualization in Arts-Design, and UNLV offers neither a major nor a minor in this field. I've never earned a driver's license, and the bank I currently have an account with has no branches in Nevada.</p>

<p>I guess what I'm asking for are effective suggestions on what to do next. The UIC Tuition FAQ says that my parents can continue paying in-state tuition at UIC even if they do sell our house and move to Nevada, and for that I'm very grateful. But how would I convince them to let me stay in Illinois? If dorming at UIC isn't an option, then I suspect that I'd have to live with a relative or family friend for the weeks in between semesters. </p>

<p>Again, I'd really benefit from a thoughtful suggestion. By that I don't mean "stop whining and start packing" or messages with a nicer tone but the same advice, so please keep your response relevant to the question of how to persuade relocating parents into letting their kid stay for educational purposes.</p>

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<p>If you'd have been commuting to U of I Chicago, if you can figure out a way to find safe housing and to pay for it, your parents may allow you to stay in Chicago. Working a job or taking out a loan may allow you to do this. The more thought you put into solving this and taking the responsibility for any housing, the better the chances are that your parents will go along with your decision.</p>

<p>You also could offer to take out $3,000 a year in loans to make up the difference between what your parents would have to pay at U of I Chicago and UNLV. You may have to take out less than that in loans if you work during the summer and school year.</p>

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<p>First you did you yell in your vocalizations?</p>

<p>You need to have a plan, have you contacted UNLV and asked them about your credits, becuase right now you are are working on assumptions, and without some real facts, so you can say "mom they will only take these credits, the others I will have to take over again, and that wil take another semester, thus this amount of $$"</p>

<p>You need to get as much REAL information as you can, and CALMY discuss this with her. </p>

<p>Would you be willing to work every summer to make up the difference in $$</p>

<p>Are there relatives who have said definately YES you can stay with them</p>

<p>How would get home to Nevada, etc</p>

<p>If you want to stay at your current school, you need to do lots of research, not guess at stuff, though its an educated guess and you are probably right, but call UNLV and ask about what it takes to transfer in, the timing, the likeliehood, all the details</p>

<p>Mom maybe thinks this is a simple walk-onto the campus process, it may not be at all</p>

<p>And you need to say, mom, if its the $$, let me try Illinois for one year, and if I can't make it work, then I will transfer?</p>

<p>If you approach it rationally, I bet you have a chance</p>

<p>I think you are being reasonable and your decision to stay is valid, you just need to finesse your dealings with your mom a bit</p>

<p>BTW what year are you in?</p>

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<p>Oh, just saw it, you are still in HS...so what credits are we talking about here</p>

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<p>From a mom's perspective...you are correct not to inflame the conversation with your indignation/frustration....it sounds like you are on the right track in determining the financial picture should you remain and attend UIC...with facts and figures, along with an explanation as to why UIC is a better match for your major and desire for a specific career, you should be successful in having her come over "to your side" of thinking. Get the numbers together---tuition,fees,dorm/apt,utilities if applicable,transporation...you get my drift...then sit down over tea or coffee in a coffee shop...and explain your position. This type of maturity will help. Good Luck!</p>

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<p>AHH YOU'RE GOING TO UNLV WOOO!!! I go there :D!!</p>

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<p>if the situation were reversed, and your mom was staying in illinois but you wanted to attend school out of state (assuming $ was the same), what would have been her response?
to me, this is no different than any student attending college away from home. it's just switched in that the parent is moving, not the student.
i've really never respected parents who don't let their kids attend college away from home. financial reasons aside, kids grow the most when they're far enough away from home that they're mostly on their own. so i really think this should be your decision, and if you're comfortable with the distance and independence, you should be allowed to go for it.
however, the parents on this thread know what are good ways to go about convincing your mom, and what won't fly. you should prove some independence by getting a driver's license and finding a way to overcome the $3k difference. because your mom isn't going to be there for you as much as she would in nevada.
i think your biggest argument is your major. if your major were available everywhere, like mine (psych), it'd be a different issue. but yours is location-specific. keep in mind that students DO change majors, but if you're pretty confident you'll stick with it or end up with something related, then it's a big factor.
good luck to you! :)</p>

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<p>Dude, this is pretty easy:</p>

<p>Just purposefully get denied as a transfer to LVU.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
How would get home to Nevada, etc

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Welcome to the 21st century. We have these big metal tubes with wings called airplanes that can fly people places pretty quickly....well when they're on time. That shouldn't even be a concern....just don't fly America West Airlines...they're notorious for being late all the time and their service is, well, the worst.</p>

<p>It's called America Worst Airlines for a reason.</p>

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<p>I'd definitely sit down and calmly explain to your parents that it would be much better for you to go to UIC than UNLV. Explain to her that UIC would be much better as a long-term option (holding much more weight in graduate school apps than UNLV by far). The best way to convince her would probably offering to cover the difference (doing extra work-study or applying for more financial aid, etc.). </p>

<p>If this doesn't work, I would make sure to apply to the Honors College at UNLV. That's really the only option of getting a decent education there (that's even what they tell the locals here). I sincerely wish you the best of luck in your predicament.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Dude, this is pretty easy:</p>

<p>Just purposefully get denied as a transfer to LVU.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Couldn't have said it better myself! </p>

<p>On a more serious note, it sounds like you need to stay at UIC. The only real argument I see your mom bringing up is the money issue, and the extra money that you would need to earn part-time/seasonally would be worth it for your major, and to go to the better school overall. Maybe your mom just thinks you would pack up your bags and move with her without any qualms, but you need to make sure that you pick what you think is best for yourself.</p>