[quote]
Every year, NEBHEs Tuition Break program, the New England Regional Student Program (RSP), enables thousands of New England residents to enroll at out-of-state New England public colleges and universities at a discount. Students are eligible for the RSP Tuition Break when they enroll in an approved major that is not offered by the public colleges in their own state.
<p>"That's it. This is your belief supported by few anecdotal data points. You have no real data, and no amount of data will convince you otherwise. You will simply dismiss them as propaganda. It is ironic, but similar traits are found in the supporters of gun rights, anti warming crowd, stem cell research and many other issues. Belief system plays much larger role than facts."</p>
<p>ROFL - Actually, I completed a well-received research project on this very topic. Your reply post is pretty condescending, as was your original post which caused me to comment. You have a pretty high opinon of yourself. Unfortunately, my post has nothing to do with gun rights or stem cell research, and I'm not particularly interested in engaging you in some political debate or rant. The 'authorities' you rely on for your position relative to the so-called nursing shortage are industry groups with a vested interest in the outcome. No doubt you also believe the cigarette industry position on smoking, or the asbestos industry position on the relative safety of their products. </p>
<p>Again - my point, for those who couldn't figure it out - was that the 'shortage' is artificial, and exists in large part because employers, who refuse to pay a fair wage, have been granted a mechanism to keep wages low by the simple expedient of declaring 'shortage,' and then moving to foreign recruitment. This is very well supported, but requires a bit more mathematical analysis beyond a simplistic look at industry-supported lobby sites, university associations looking to fill seats with customers, or chambers of commerce sites.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, our financial situation is largely due to the decisions we made. My roommate and I came to this country at the same time and went to the same graduate school. I chose to spend my time study and he went to get a part time job. Within one year, he has a new car and everything but a 2.0 GPA. I got my ph.D. and have a decent research job. That roommate move to a different school and I don't know if he got his degree.</p>
<p>Don't blame the society for one's decisions.</p>
<p>While there are always outliers, it will be common to think a two professional income family should be able to afford at least $500 a semester.</p>
<p>It would be interesting if this student's parent could address the questions.</p>
<p>Just some fodder: many years ago, we sent our daughter to a private elementary school that was quite a financial reach for us due to income and expenses and debts (some consumer, some medical). We paid the full tuition. At the time, I drove a very cheap car in order to afford the school and our bills. This was at the height of the SUV craze. In the carpool lane, I felt dwarfed by the other parents'; it always baffled me as to how someone in a brand new SUV could qualify for financial aid. I often wished for a bumper sticker that read "I PAY FULL TUITION."</p>
<p>I am the OP...
I'd just like to make it known that I live in rural Maine. My father makes in the 30-thousands, and is a high school teacher. My mother is a JUNIOR accountant and makes about 50-something thousand a year.
A while ago, we decided to move back to where my parents grew up, about an hour away, so we could be closer to my parents' workplaces and cut gas costs.
We built the house, moved in...now we have bills for this house, and a mortgage on a house back in my old town that we can't sell. The housing market is horrible, especially in Maine and in winter.
It's true, it was their decision to have such crappy careers (they once worked together and owned a printing business, raking in collectively about 140,000 a year), but we couldn't keep up with it and sold the business.
Either way, it does not mean I should have to suffer because my parents wanted to have different careers.
I am not suggesting that I weasel other peoples' parents out of their tax money, but I just find it a little ridiculous that I will be so in debt, no matter how many good financial choices - I - make, because of the ones my parents made.</p>
<p>I would suggest that you make good financial decisions, then.</p>
<p>To start with, be realistic about what you can afford -- community colleges provide a good, solid education to get started and you can attend a community college while working part-time and living at home. </p>
<p>Plan on working for what you want -- get a summer job, consider Americorps, get a part-time or work-study job during school semesters.</p>
<p>If you really think ahead, do your research and are conservative in your choices you can certainly get a good solid education with little debt and then have your college degree.</p>
<p>The problem is that many students want what they cannot afford -- a college that costs more than their family can/will pay for. It is just a fact of life. You can't always have what you want -- life is a series of choices and those choices have consequences. Now it is your turn to make choices.</p>
<p>Most people don't build or buy a new house until they know that their old one is at least under agreement. Doesn't matter that they wanted to move back to the area they lived in. And the cost of gas for their commutes was, most likely, less than the costs of the mortgage they're still carrying on their old house. </p>
<p>Building a new house was a choice. (They couldn't have bought an older, maybe smaller home, cheaper?) Turns out for you that it was a bad choice. </p>
<p>I doubt that colleges are going to be sympathetic to people who can afford a brand new home and what is now an investment property.</p>
<p>Talk to your parents. Is it really their choice not to pay for your education? Or maybe this is a temporary situation they hope to reverse by fall.
They should be able to sell the house in summer. It may take reducing the price, but not by much (if their initial expectations were realistic). Are they willing to go as far as it takes to sell the house and will they be ABLE AND WILLING to pay for your college after that. In this case you search for loans, ou needthe first payment.
If you parents are not willing to pay, it may be unfair between them and you, but it is 100% within your family. After all, you may inherit the new house or will not have to support your parents when they get old. If your grandparents once paid for your parents' education - talk to them! They may prefer to help you now rather than leave everything for your parents. Even if they are not wealthy, a few thousand dollars can make a difference when added to your loans and scholarships.</p>