<p>To start off, I just want to say that I have a mere ~5k instate tuition that doesn't seem bad in my opinion but to my parent it does. He earns near 35k per year and we cannot receive FA due to certain circumstances. I have a younger sibling who pays her own way through college through merit scholarship and is extremely bright. I on the other hand am not as smart so I have to get by with summer fellowships (if I get any) and possible part time jobs even on holidays. I commute and have never lived on campus. It's a rough life but I never ever complain. I also joined a program I don't like a lot only so that I can earn a definite job position after graduating, postponing my professional school dreams so I can pay my parent back. Sure my gpa took a setback but I don't care because I am sick of hearing about my parent constantly complaining about paying my tuition. We don't have to worry about home maintenance since we don't live in one but rather a small apartment. </p>
<p>The only question I have is, are 5k a lot, especially when there is only 1 dependent to feed besides the wife? I don't understand and I'd like to know up front. I have money saved but I want to hold on to it cause I don't want to have $0 in my account. I will not do job spring semester and possibly summer, so if I don't have anything, I don't want to revert to asking my parent to buy me this or that. I really just spend my money for clothes and food. I am a good kid...I don't understand anything about this world and I'd like to know if the excuses I hear every semester are legit. I will pay my parent back with interest...I am integrable and am always true to my word with money matters. Any parents who can give advice please do. I hear about these amazing kids that work night shifts and such and never resort to parents; I don't know how I can do that. Though I'd like to know without it being a major defect to my gpa.</p>
<p>If I understand your question, then yes, 5k out of a 35k salary is big sacrifice. Assuming that $35k is the gross salary and not net, then taxes take a chunk of it, which doesn’t leave much for rent, food, transportation or other expenses.</p>
<p>Just appreciate it, and give back as you can. Use some of your own earned money to defray some costs if you can.</p>
<p>If you are definitely eligible for ANY financial aid–and do double check with the financial aid office at your school about this, then I suggest you find a full time job and go to school part time to alleviate some of the financial pressure from you and your parents. </p>
<p>Absolutely, a family making $35K a year is going to have a difficult time making ends meet even without a college tuition to pay. It’s a tough go for your family, and for you. Most students get through college, a little at a time, part time, working at least part time. That way, you can help out your parents by paying rent, pay your tuition and commuting costs, cover what other needs you have. Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities for work and jobs that pay more, and perhaps gear your college courses to put yourself in position for such job paths.</p>
<p>^ but my parent has savings and as terrible as it sounds that was the deal I had with my parent that I would study, then get a job, and get whatever my parent needs help with. It’s not like we are living on the 35k per year (that would be terrible and impossible). We truly save tons on everything and with my sibling out of the house we are bound to have saved more so I am just asking about where that money could have possibly gone. My parent does not share this at all and does not share it with my mother either. We never eat out, never go on a vacation, never have asked for FA because the school says we aren’t eligible. It’s non-negotiable and that’s that. I will pay $1000 but I am not some rich kid either. I commute so far for my school and when I come home it is dark. I am responsible for my own distress but it is impossible that my parent just turns on me like that when I am already saving over $6000 per year by not even living on campus. How is it that problems escalate only when my sibling leaves the house? Why didn’t they improve rather since my parent doesn’t now have to support my sibling? Plus my mom hasn’t had insurance for the past 7 years. We both wonder where that saved money went. I feel bad for her that she compromised her health but for all her sacrifice, she knows we shouldn’t be this poor if we sacrificed so much this far out.</p>
<p>Your parents do not owe you a college education. Once you are 18, it’s up to you. IT’s not any of your business how they choose to spend or not spend their money. THe only control you have is over your own life and what you do. If they are kind enough to let you live in their home when you are an adult, that’s saving you quite a bit in living expenses. </p>
<p>As I said before, most college students finish school, a bit at a time, on a part time basis, working as they do so. You have no control over what others, including our parent do or don’t do, but you do have that control over what YOU do.</p>
<p>Why aren’t you eligible for aid?</p>
<p>Are you in this country illegally? are you here on a visa? If you’re a citzen or green card holder then you are eligible.</p>
<p>I am here on visa but have lived so long that I am not called a student from my country since I never got education from there. Hence, I cannot get loan from either here or there. I keep asking my parent to get me a loan someway or another but it isn’t so easy for an international like me. Really I am on middle ground. If I wanted to finish school a little at a time, I cannot do that now. The program I am in does not let me take 1-2 classes per time. I must finish the same things at the same time. I did think about quitting school even when I was at the top of my class last semester, but my parents said no and they even said no to become a residential advisor so that I could live on campus for free and get paid. </p>
<p>In the end I have a choice: Should I drop next semester entirely and drop my program. Ask my current employer to then employ me 40 hr/week as staff and live near campus so that the following semester I can save up and take 2 classes and go from there? With my AP scores, I already am a year ahead so I can just continue with my physical science degree program that I had before. Does that sound good? Perhaps within some years, I’ll be done with my degree and see to it that I become independent completely.</p>