<p>We hope it works out for you, too. Try to think of it from your parent’s perspective – they have a TON more economic pressure on them than you can imagine. Having to pay for some clothes, a phone (strictly an optional item in life), and “other stuff” – I assume that is stuff like makeup, going out with friends, maybe some gas money – isn’t much compared to worrying about a place to live, food on the table, insurance, healthcare, and education expenses. You may have worked hard for a few years, but they have likely been at it for 25 years, and still wondering how they are going to fund their retirement so they don’t have to rely on you to support them in their old age. Just remember all that if you don’t end up at your first choice school – the fact that your parents are helping pay for college at all is more than a lot of students get from their parents.</p>
<p>Caroline - I am sorry that some of the postings were a bit harsh on you. I think sometimes we forget that you guys are still young and your vision may not be as broad as we “oldies” would like. You sound like a smart kid, and one with good judgment, and I hope that the advice that some of the posters have given you have helped you see the possibilities behind your parents’ thinking. They may indeed want to see what your chances are at a higher-ranked school; but it may simply be that they would like to see what the possible financial offers are from the different schools. I do not think that your chances at Skidmore are going to be significantly different from ED vs RD, and I think your being willing to do this will help ease your relationship with your parents, and open the discussion up. In the end, your parents (hopefully) want what is best for you and they will undoubtedly do what they can to help you reach your dream. Remember, if another school offers more money than Skidmore, your parents can use this to go back to Skidmore to get the package from them adjusted. So applying RD can really be in your family’s overall best interest.</p>