<p>j07, you are way overscheduled. Of all the things you are doing, the job is the least important. You're probably not earning enough to make a dent in your college costs anyway -- and maintaining your grades, so that you can qualify for scholarships will be much more beneficial financially. You're such a strong candidate for almost any school -- but you may be better off including in your list at least a few places where you would be in the top 10% of the class - so that you can qualify for significant scholarships. OK - apply to Harvard if that's what you want - but get real about the money situation - and try to get happy about something a little lower down the status ladder. There are so many great schools - it's not the end of the world if you don't go to an ivy. Your parents are wrong to pressure you to this degree and to demand so much from you. My kids' rooms were a disaster -- but I figured it was the least important thing on the list of things they should be doing -- way down the list after friends, relaxing, studying, sports -- so I just shut the door and my eyes. Maybe you can some to some kind of truce about this stuff -- like you'll clean your room once a month or after swim season. Good luck.</p>
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The 60k is the cutoff for a full ride, but it does not mean that if your family's income is a bit over it--or even a lot over it, you won't qualify for nearly full ride!
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<p>I wanted to highlight this again, in case you missed it. This is very important information. Many people end up limiting their choices because they think they won't qualify for enough aid, and find out too late that they were wrong!</p>
<p>65K-75K a year may seem like a tremendous amount of money to you and me, but to schools like Harvard, that's only just barely above "dire straits" and miles from "easy street". Elite private school have a tremendous amout of flexibility in awarding aid, too. That your parents don't seem to have much in the way of assets and have at least one other child to care for will help you too.</p>
<p>I hate to give you any more homework, but sites like the act and the collegeboard have financial aid calculators that simulate what you can expect in need-based aid. Make sure to check out simulations for both the FAFSA and the "Institutional Methodology" which is what schools like Harvard use. Frankly, you seem a good candidate for some merit aid too, if your school gives it, or from outside sources if you apply. Your financial aid counselor will also have discretion to adjust your award up if you can show solid evidence that money is truly a barrier to your going. </p>
<p>My daughter's HS gc always stressed that the first year is always the hardest. After the first year, you are often eligible for departmental and other scholarships not open to freshmen, and can apply as an RA if you want to, which usually nets at least free room and board and a small stipend. So if you can get through the first year, you're usually OK.</p>
<p>If you absolutely had to, you could even take a gap year to save up for that first year, but I don't think you'll have to (unless you just need to rest up for college, grin). Anyhow, as D's gc put it, if your child really wants to attend a school (and gets in), there's always some way to work it out.</p>
<p>Good luck in getting a teacher to talk with your parents. I really think that's the key to working something out that will be in everyone's best interests.</p>
<p>Jo7 - I think it's great that you have reached out to parents in this forum. From the responses here you can see that there are different opinions about chores but a fairly solid consensus about quitting your job. If your parents require chores despite your schedule, commit to a time that you will do them when you know they are doable without stress. Three of my son's friends landed spots on D3 swim teams at wonderful schools - if you are a competitive swimmer, don't give that up. </p>
<p>One more comment. Kids your age need more than 6 hours/night sleep even though many kids do not get it. My boys would sleep 12 hours straight if they did not have teo get up for school. Just because you can get by with 6 hours of sleep doesn't mean that you are optimally rested. Lack of sleep can create irritation, mental fatigue, problems with attention, stamina and learning - do what you can to take care of yourself by sleeping, eating well, getting help with your schedule, allowing time for friends or downtime! These habits will help you in college as well.</p>
<p>I actually believe that the OP's parents have some valid points. It's reasonable to expect someone who's living in their house to do basics like their own laundry and keeping their room clean.</p>
<p>Once one is an adult, one will have to balance all of this while also working a job, raising kids, and doing a variety of other things. The way to learn to balance everything is by being expected to as a teen. You also do this by figuring out what you're capable of doing in your ECs while also handling your other responsibilities such as academics and home responsibilities.</p>
<p>I've known students who did a lot in school and also did things around their house including having major responsibility for caring for younger sibs and for cleaning.</p>
<p>What I think needs to go, as I've said before, is that parttime job. You don't need to earn $ during the school year for college. With wise and careful applications, you should be able to get lots of merit money from some top tier colleges.</p>
<p>If after resigning from your job, you find yourself still overstretched, the drop one of your ECs. There is no shame in doing this. One important lesson that one can learn in high school is how much is reasonable to take on in terms of ECs. Bowing out early at the beginning of the year would allow someone else to step in and take on the position. You also could recommend someone for the position. Believe me: No one is irreplacable. What would be a mistake, however, would be to hang in there and do a poor job because you've taken on too much.</p>
<p>Bowing out with thoughtfulness would not hurt you when it comes to college apps. However, doing a poor job would because that could be reflected in yoru recommendations. Similarly, ticking off your parents now because from their perspective, you are acting as if your ECs are more important than your family responsibilities, would be a big mistake. Ticked off parents could be very inflexible about supporting your plans including by getting in their financial aid paperwork on time or supporting your desire to move far from home. Consequently, it's important for your actions to demonstrate that you value and support them just as you wish them to do the same for you. Trust me; Parents are busy and don't need to go out of their way to do the boring, tedious hard work of getting those financial aid forms done or helping with students' college plans in other ways such as helping them get to visit colleges or even get to colleges that the students decide to attend.</p>