<p>swim2:
Unfortunately too many of us know all too well what your house was like as it’s happening all over. Parents want to see their kids full of excitement reaching for their dreams. Many young people have no idea how long it can take to get out of debt the size some are considering for college loans. Too many people today are in financial messes because they got so deep into a debt that they thought would be easy to repay. Sometimes after a lifetime of being able to give their kids pretty much everything the kids wanted, this is the first time the parents have to say, “I can’t do it.” and “I can’t let you do it.” It is stressful for all. It is easier for parents to think about more sacrifice if they see their kid helping out any way possible. That means applying for scholarships, maybe getting a pt job, being helpful around the house, getting along with others, and it might mean being understanding and mature in accepting the reality that your first pick might not become a reality. Don’t let it ruin your life. You never know what is around the corner for you. Make it great!</p>
<p>A big AMEN to wildwood. It’s SO hard. We want our kids to have EVERYTHING, but sometimes…even though we can FIND a way to get it…it’s just NOT the smart choice. YOu don’t want to be approaching this same kid in 20 years saying “um…I spent everything on your education, I can’t work now, I’m ill and have no retirement…can YOU take care of me?”</p>
<p>^ R124687, you remind me of my mom (in a good way). that’s exactly how she talks! It’s also how I came to understand her own perspective. That’s why I’m going to go to the career center often while I’m at Brown to find out jobs I can do with my major that will give me the income needed so I don’t screw my parents or myself. Of course I will strive for as many scholarships as possible, but we all know how hard they are to come by in today’s economy. I really do appreciate everyone’s help/comments!</p>
<p>Are you saying your EFC is equal to the COA at Brown and that your parents are not contributing anything? Have they contributed at all for your brother? Perhaps it’s not really $200,000 in loans they are expecting you to take. Perhaps your parents simply want you to consider the cost to the family ($200,000) and they’re asking if it’s worth it. They may want you to take some of the load off them by applying for scholarships - or they may want you to choose the much cheaper alternative (I forget if it was your state school).</p>
<p>I agree with those parents who are advising you NOT to take $200,000 in loans for undergrad. IF your parents contribute something and you do work study and work in the summer and earn some scholarships, then your loans should be less than you are estimating.</p>
<p>Doesn’t Brown reduce your financial aid if you get scholarships?
Are you trying to get scholarships to cover the full cost of four years?</p>
<p>I’m just wondering, because I haven’t really been applying for scholarships because our EFC is low and I thought that getting other scholarships would reduce the aid that Brown offered.</p>
<p>djdopeslap, my understanding is that Brown is very generous with allowing you to keep some scholarships. I know my dd got an outside grant for study abroad and got to keep virtually all of it in addition to her Brown aid paying for the study abroad. She was able to travel for 3 weeks with the extra money (though she had to be frugal.)</p>
<p>For swim2daend, your thread is pretty confusing. I don’t know if you or your parents have really educated yourself on how financial aid works. Both you and your brother should be filling out the FAFSA and the Brown Financial Aid forms, because with 2 in college, you may very well be eligible for grants and scholarships. It would be foolish not to apply.</p>
<p>Also you first post said 20k in debt, but later says 200k. 20 k is not bad to come out with at all. 200k is not worth it. But you applied ED right? I can’t recall if that is still binding at Brown. If so, you are blackballing yourself for other schools.</p>
<p>Also, going to law school right now would be a foolish move, imo. You will be in heavy debt and the jobs are just not there right now. Even a funded position in public policy or related area would be preferable. Your own plan for math or geoscience is better to me, because grad school positions in those areas are funded. My daughter is at grad school in math/CS and has 4 years guaranteed funding. After the 4 years, she will be in a position to gain more funding. She only has to work as a TA or RA in return.</p>
<p>Last though to help a bit financially. At Brown, jobs with professors are abundant. You can work 10-15 hours a week and the work can be related to your interests, which will help you in your grad school applications. My daughter worked on many interesting projects, even from freshman year: running experiments for a cog sci prof, data crunching for a physics prof, a long term paid research project in math/CS. The best paying job was doing call center for alumni donations, though.</p>
<p>Just another thought to add…</p>
<p>You don’t pick grad schools this way (maybe I will get into Brown)</p>
<p>You pick grad schools really carefully. From an upperclassman’s point of iew and maturity. You will review schools that have profs that specialize in your area of interest and have professors that you want to work with. You don’t pick grad schools on the overall rep of an undergrad school. Even then you have to be open minded and see where you get funding.</p>
<p>Seconding BrownParent; it’s possible that a public university will be better for your intended area than an Ivy. Far as I know most well-reputed publics have better programs in math and the geosciences than Brown, although that’s not my field. Brown is not generally known as a prestigious graduate institution.</p>
<p>But by the time you are a junior and selecting schools, you will know that.</p>
<p>Juillet-- you clearly don’t follow either field very much. Brown easily has one of the strongest geo programs in the country, especially if you’re interested in planetary geology. Pure math is not as strong as applied math, but our applied math department is top notch just like geology. </p>
<p>It’s arguable these are two of the strongest programs at Brown, and it’s definitely true that these programs are two of the strongest in their areas nationwide.</p>
<p>yeah, I was going to mention that those are strong grad depts at Brown, but it’s a bit beside the point of the OP’s current considerations.</p>
<p>Swim2daend…as an accepted ED candidate, I’m sure you did not apply to State schools, right? Somehow, I’m thinking your chances of getting in there are pretty slim. You might have just made scholarship deadlines, but deadlines at most state colleges have been over for weeks and weeks.</p>
<p>Going to Brown seems to be your best (and only) option. lucky you</p>
<p>From what I know:
- rolling admissions schools (like my state flagship) have a deadline of July or so.
- Why wouldn’t swim have applied already? And most state schools, for someone who got into Brown, acceptance at a state school is pretty much guaranteed (exceptions? yes. The norm? no.)
- State schools will not care about any “blackball” list. I have a strong feeling most private schools don’t even keep track of stuff like that, because it would be so much more paperwork, and it’d mean having to coordinate with other schools. What a mess that’d be.</p>