My parents say they cant pay for me, what should I do?

Paying for College
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<p>My parents make about 100k a year and say they cant afford a private school that costs around 40k a year, cost of living where we are I think is higher than most places an my parents are nearing retirement age.</p>

<p>I live in wyoming and we have one legitimate university here, UW (university of Wyoming) and I desperately dont want to go there.</p>

<p>Let me explain.</p>

<p>I have albinism, with a visual acuity of 20/800. Perfect vision is 20/20. This means what others can see at 800 feet clearly, I need to be at 20 feet to see. </p>

<p>This is why I dont want to go to a huge public school, I think I need a small class size and good teacher contact in order to function with my disability. UW certainly cant offer this, the catch is that I could go there for next to nothing.</p>

<p>I just need to know, do you think I would get good financial aid with who I am and my scores. If feel my family makes too much, we only have one dependent, my brother who has down syndrome.</p>

<p>about me</p>

<p>-albinism / wyoming (diversity)
-2000 SAT (1330, math + reading)
-3.4 GPA, unweighted (4 AP classes, 4 honors)
-Debate, 4 years (PF and Student Congress)
-Debate captain this year (team of 50 people)
-Rock climbing, paragliding, skiing
-Piano for 8 years, guitar for 4, learning musical theory
-A ton of community service at local library, I served on the youth board for 5 year, and 2 as president</p>

<p>PLease, Im freaking out, will I get enough money to go to school at a private university?</p>

<p>I am applying to</p>

<p>Middleberry (reach)
UChichago (reach)
Lewis and Clark
Grinell
Washington and Lee
University of Wyoming (for sure)
Western Washington (for sure, WUWI, another big school.)</p>

<p>please, like I said I am freaking out and I dont know what to do right now, like all my work in high school wasnt worth doing because Im going to the school 4/5ths of my High School is going to anyway</p>

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<p>Your parents probably earn too much for you to get enough F/A to go to a private school. Your scores don’t affect F/A. I don’t know if you could get some fabulous merit money for a private school. I don’t know if your SAT is high enough for that. Maybe a lower ranking school.</p>

<p>To tell you the truth, I don’t think the cost of living in Wyoming is higher than most places. </p>

<p>Have they told you how much they can afford? If you can find this out, some of us might be able to help you.</p>

<p>Another option is a small public school.</p>

<p>:)</p>

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<p>We live in Jackson WY, I think the cost must be higher because its supposedly one of the most wealthy counties in the country, because Wyoming has no property tax and jackson is one of the most beautiful places in wyoming with skiing and everything a lot of rich people choose to build second homes here</p>

<p>My dad said he could pay for 15k a year.</p>

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<p>1) You need to find out how much your parents can afford to pay. The you can look for schools in that price range with a college matching web engine. There is a nice one at the College Board website.</p>

<p>2) Do you have a 504 plan in effect because of your vision now? What accommodations has your HS arranged for you? Disability services varies from college to college, and some are better than others. You should pick up the phone and call the office at U of Wyoming and ask them what you need to do in order to have the accommodations you would need in a classroom if you study there.</p>

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<p>1) If you went to a community college for 2 years, would your parents be willing to pay more for your last 2 years?</p>

<p>2) The college board says that the average private college cost about 25k last year. Maybe you find cheaper schools or schools that offer merit aid with your stats.</p>

<p>3) Have you investigated the Western Undergraduate Exchange? [WICHE</a> - Student Exchange Programs](<a href=“http://wue.wiche.edu/]WICHE”>http://wue.wiche.edu/)</p>

<p>4) Does tuition, room, board, transportation, and books need to come out of this 15k, or is this a cap on tuition only?</p>

<p>5) Would you consider taking out a small federal loan each year?</p>

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<p>I just moved this to the other thread started by the OP</p>

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<p>^
I think if the dad says he can pay $15k per year, he means that all he can pay for any college costs.</p>

<p>That wouldn’t cover all the costs of any private or nearly any OOS public. You need more money - you need merit money. You need to look at lower ranked schools - 3rd tiers. </p>

<p>Of course, University of Wyoming is your true financial safety. Cost is low and acceptance is assured.</p>

<p>Have you toured UWyoming? You say that you don’t want to go to a “big school,” but UW is not a big school. It has like 8,000 undergrads…that’s small for a state school. </p>

<p>Does it have an honors program?</p>

<p>On your other thread, I made these two suggestions.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063390065-post3.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1063390065-post3.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>OP: I just wanted to give you a little note of hope. Last year our financial situation and EFC were in the same ballpark as your family’s, and we had the similar freak-out, and no, there was no possible way we could spend $45 x 4 years. So D started looking hard for schools that are known for being generous with merit money, and schools where she would be near the top of the incoming class – in other words, generous schools who would very much want her to attend. </p>

<p>In the end, she got a great package from her private school, mostly scholarships and grants. The bottom-line amount that we have to pay is about $13K, plus travel and misc expenses, brings it to right about your dad’s $15K mark. So don’t give up, it CAN be done! </p>

<p>BTW, you sound like an interesting person, perhaps a bit off the beaten path, and I thought of this list for you. Most of these are very small, which I know will be attractive to you. Maybe you and one of these schools will fall in love with each other. Good luck!</p>

<p>[Colleges</a> That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/]Colleges”>http://www.ctcl.org/)</p>

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<p>First, you have to figure out your EFC, both FAFSA an Profile. It’s not only income that counts, but assets too. One you have those numbers you get get to work.</p>

<p>You can look at whether your state has any agreement with other states that would give you in state tuition. Some states have smaller public colleges.</p>

<p>Then you can look at merit at schools that give significant scholarships to those with your stats.</p>

<p>Unfortunately schools like Midd (only need based and not generous to families with 100K income and any assets such as a home) and Chicago (only merit for very top stats and cheap with need based) are probably not in the cards.</p>

<p>If your brother with DS causes special expenses–a special school, medical bills, therapy–that could reduce your EFC, so it’s also worth looking at.</p>

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<p>What do you want to study, mclaurin?</p>

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<p>A similar thread by the same OP is in the Parents Forum</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/796252-my-parents-say-they-cant-afford-please-need-avice.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/796252-my-parents-say-they-cant-afford-please-need-avice.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I think the one in the Parents Forum has more posts…</p>