<p>Maybe I am missing something or too old-fashioned. I simple don't understand the logic that kids (OP is not the only one) come to discussion board and ask strangers for advice against their parents. Who has your best interest in mind, your parent or a stranger? Your parents have been with your for 18 years and even if you explain your situation very well to strangers, they know about you less than 1/1000 of what your parent know. Sigh....</p>
<p>mika:</p>
<p>Don't forget to 'value' your options. We all want things but generally limit ourselves based on how we 'value' them. Everyone values things differently and financial resources are generally a major factor. </p>
<p>For example, I'd like to own a nice 1957 Corvette or maybe a new Ferrari. I could buy one if I really wanted to but I can't justify it to myself given my resources. Now, if you added a couple of million dollars to the mix then I'd probably buy one or both.</p>
<p>Another example - If it was in your face, would you prefer Oxford along with a nice new car, 55" plasma TV, new top of the line laptop, new top iPod, and a trip to another country each year, or attending Mercer without any of these? That's the difference the cost makes. Of course, you won't actually buy those things right away but it's an example of what the value translates to and what you really could buy after graduating with little debt versus a lot. Don't dismiss the debt so readily when you have to pay for it. It may not seem so tangible to you right now but believe me, when you graduate you'll very much appreciate the cash rather than the payment on the $50K.</p>
<p>I-dad and others have given great advice. I have two Ds in CS majors right now and believe me, plenty of the required courses aren't 'CS' per se - there's a lot of math to take, physics, and GEs along with the CS courses.</p>
<p>Since you're so adamant against going into the med field, I suggest NOT taking the 'pre-med' core courses unless you're really interested in them. They'll only drag down your GPA and possibly limit your internship, employment, or grad school options. OTOH, you might always change your mind. A friend of mine had a GF who graduated CMU with a masters in CS then decided she wanted to be a doctor and went and got her med degree (where she met my friend who also became a doctor). You might also decide that CS isn't for you. At the schools my Ds go to there's about a 35-40% attrition rate of CS majors who decide to switch to something else for a variety of reasons. If you decided to switch out, I'm sure a school like Emory would have many other major choices you could pursue.</p>
<p>If you can persuade them, invite your parents to any info sessions Oxford or Emory might have on the CS program and opportunities. Maybe it'll open their eyes and even pump them up. The opportunities are actually very good right now for CS grads.</p>
<p>@Professor101:
Sometimes the strangers are much better informed. Sometimes they are just able to see the situation more objectively. There are plenty of reasons to seek opinions about various issues outside one's family.</p>
<p>In this particular case I think the advice was constructive and helpful, and helped the OP to make a decision that hopefully will make everybody happy at the end.</p>
<p>Mika-</p>
<p>I'm so happy you are taking the course you are! Seriously, nearly everyone ends up loving the college they graduate from - even if it was their bottom of the barrel safety to start with. </p>
<p>This week, my son and I visited the college he's heading to this fall. This visit was entirely different than others when he wasn't sure he'd get in or get funded. This time, he knew it was his college and he fell in love :-)</p>
<p>I suspect all the emotional turmoil you've been through this year with ED and waitlist ups and downs has meant that you've got a little anger toward Emory. Go visit Oxford and Emory. Go see them as "your colleges". Meet some people. Visit some CS professors and talk about opportunities. I'll bet you'll feel much better afterward.</p>
<p>And if I were you, I'd talk to my parents as soon as I could. You don't want that hanging over you all summer. But first, see if you can show them some joy over Oxford/Emory - buy them some bumperstickers :-) Your happiness and cooperation :-) may smooth over the rest for them. </p>
<p>I really believe you are doing the right thing here. $40000 debt would change your life and limit your options. And the debt free path allows you to please your parents and go to a excellent school. Can't beat that :-)</p>
<p>Mika, the course catalog indicates that it is possible to get approval to take courses at Emory -- sounds like approval is generally limited to those times when a course is required for a major, so if you max out on the CS before finishing at Oxford, this may be an option.</p>