My dad has had a serious conversation w/all the relatives that I could potentially stay with in Boston, NoVA and Minneapolis. Long story short, my dad has told me that I won’t be going anywhere near Minneapolis because the area my aunt lives in isn’t very safe and the quality of life isn’t the best (especially compared to what I’m used to) and she lives where the majority of Somalis live = not good because there is a lot of bad things that happens within the twin cities Somali community (won’t elaborate on this). Simply put my dad doesn’t want me to go there so he’s told me to take all the Minnesota schools off my list.
Boston - My aunt is the only relative I’ve got that lives in the Boston area. She’s told my dad that there isn’t any space for me as she lives w/her daughter and her three children. So that means Boston is (technically) out too.
That now basically leaves me with NoVA and DC. I’ve got a ton of single female cousins and aunts that are willing and happy to take me in so housing isn’t an issue here.
I’ve taken all your recommendations into consideration, I’m adding Howard and GWU to my list. I’m still going to keep GMU, UMD-CP and Northeastern (in case I’m allowed to dorm). I would’ve added American but I ran the NPC and it isn’t affordable.
Thanks for all the help! There isn’t really anything else I can do. I’ll see what happens. I might also apply to some schools in London but I really don’t like the UK and I’m sick of the schooling system, so I’ll see.
You might reconsider American - they gave my son a half tuition scholarship and an invite to the honors dorms. He liked its campus very much. They teach Arabic (though it’s not as demanding a program as Tufts which he knows having taken classes in Jordan with American students), and they have accounting. You don’t have to consider it unless they offer you a scholarship, but since they offer merit money I wouldn’t dismiss them out of hand.
One more to check out in DC is Trinity: http://www.trinitydc.edu/ The regular undergraduate program is all women, while the graduate school and the evening/weekend programs are co-ed. It would almost certainly be an academic safety for you. I don’t know about the affordability issue. Yes, it is formally Catholic, but the students represent many faith traditions so you would definitely not be alone. The Accounting major is offered through the School of Professional Studies, and many of the classes meet in the evenings and on Saturdays http://www.trinitydc.edu/programs/accounting/
It will be helpful if you are in NoVa and there are several relatives and family friends nearby - they might be generous but want to “share the wealth” by perhaps having one not housing you let you stay for a weekend.
I understand where he’s coming from, not me personally - but I understand his cultural mindset. He’s scared you’ll get swayed by western debauchery.
Perhaps make a compromise. You will live with relatives first year, but if you fare well, the next year you can move out.
Not sure the same sex angle will work as many of my daughters friends could not go to slumber parties ever and I would occasionally be asked, if they were allowed, if they would be in the same bed - kids aged 8. He might be concerned about lesbianism.
@lindyk8 I’ve already thought of proposing that compromise but it won’t work because the two schools I like best aren’t within commuting distance (UMD and Northeastern - Northeastern actually is but I don’t want to stay w/a relative with a ton of kids, it’s just too distracting and will negatively impact my school life). So I’ll need to dorm as a freshman.
One of my dad’s colleagues talked to my dad about UMD-CP (he went there, is familiar with the area and is Muslim) - he definitely helped me out. I might actually have a chance of being allowed to go to UMD now (if I get in.)
Just wanted to update. My parents ended up not saying yes to UMD or any of the other colleges. Ended up only applying to GMU and UMN-TC and got into both. Picked GMU for several reasons. But the reason I decided to come back and update was because I was actually granted instate tuition! Everyone here said I wouldn’t. This may help some else out here who’s in a similar situation.