<p>Anyone else have underachieving parents who do not understand the gravity of getting an undergraduate education at a top 20 or so university? With my stats I am being offered money by alot of lower tier schools, but I still am applying to some better schools. And my mom is seething with anger because she thinks with the total gross income of the family being 80k we won't get any financial assistance and they will have to fork half their income over. </p>
<pre><code> I understand that financial concerns bare alot of weight in this whole process, it's just that if I am making 400k/yr as an MD after all of my schooling and able to pay off this debt relatively quickly should I be limited on my educational prospects because of my parents lack of foresight. God bless any parents who promote their child getting into the best school possible, and being on here researching the whole process. Ignorant parents are so frustrating.
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<p>I agree with the OP 100%. I know for a fact that I have a good chance at Oxford. I'm worried if my parents will take the loan for Oxford education.</p>
<p>because your parents have given you a reason to worry? or because you feel that you deserve this regardless of your family ability to provide? Your parents might not be comfortable risking cosigning on a debt for you......of any magnitude.</p>
<p>Some things I've realized in dealing with FinAid forms with my parents:
1) 40K a year is a Hell of a lot of money.
2) Low-interest isn't nearly as nice as it sounds.
3) Money is a lot harder to hang onto than it seems.
4) I am NOT entitled to have my parents pay for college, especially if they have to go into debt to do so.</p>
<p>So, seriously, this thread is pretty disgusting. Grow up.</p>
<p>when I graduated high school, I knew more parents who expected their kids to go to work or if they were really aiming high, to get a sports scholarship to one of the state universities.
My mother gave me $500 from my fathers life ins policy to go to college or buy a car. I knew $500 wouldn't go very far for college so I bought a real sweet Dodge coronet that at least got me to work ;)</p>
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because your parents have given you a reason to worry? or because you feel that you deserve this regardless of your family ability to provide? Your parents might not be comfortable risking cosigning on a debt for you......of any magnitude.
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<p>First of all, I feel that I should go to a college where I deserve to go. Secondly, an education from Oxford will give me much convenience in the job market, and that is irrefutable. Finally, top companies recruit exclusively from top schools. Its extremely hard to reach to that level if you start from a cheap school.</p>
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With my stats I am being offered money by alot of lower tier schools, but I still am applying to some better schools. And my mom is seething with anger because she thinks with the total gross income of the family being 80k we won't get any financial assistance and they will have to fork half their income over. </p>
<p>Ignorant parents are so frustrating.
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<p>Is that a little arrogance topped with some ungratefulness I see hanging out there?</p>
<p>God bless parents who mange to not raise kids who are book smart but life stupid.</p>
<p>What is so ignorant about a parent knowing that if one truly wants a good education they can get it for less than $40K out of pocket?</p>
<p>While we believe that parents have a moral and social obligation to pay for their child's education, they are definitely not obligated to take on massive debt nor are you entilted to the most expensive education out there.</p>
<p>It is not wrong to have dreams of going to a selective college. It is simply wrong to assume or expect that your parents have to pay for it.</p>
<p>I think that if you spent some time working for low wages you would have a greater appreciation for the value of money, and for what you are asking/expecting your parents to do. </p>
<p>When you are 18 and graduate high school, you are legally an adult and your parents' obligation to provide financial support has come to an end. Anything you get from that day forward is a gift for which you should be appreciative. </p>
<p>Fortunately there are many excellent colleges that will offer good merit aid to students who qualify.</p>
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It is simply wrong to assume or expect that your parents have to pay for it.
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<p>Whoa, I never said that parents should pay the full amount. My problem is that they have to co-sign, in which they consider that they have to pay the entire money.</p>
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**My problem is that they have to co-sign, in which they consider that they have to pay the entire money.
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<p>Do you understand what co-sign means? The legal/financial obligation? Schools loans are not dischargeable by bankruptcy......your parents may also be concerned for you future welfare.</p>
<p>Your parents are right -- if they co-sign a note for a loan, it is legally the same as obligating themselves for the full amount. I don't think parents should ever co-sign on loans for their children -- it makes more sense for the parents to take out the loan in their own name, if they want to finance their kids education that way -- at least that way the parents' credit is protected.</p>
<p>If you really have your heart set on Oxford and your parents won't pay, then I would suggest a gap year so that you can work and earn money toward your education. Given the kind of education that Oxford offers, I think that more mature and experienced students are probably at an advantage. Gap years are very common in the UK, so you'd probably find yourself more on a par with your classmates if you took that route.</p>
<p>I would be the last person in the world to ask my parents to co-sign loans. Its just that it is something I have to do in order to get the money.</p>
<p>I finally got it. This is some sort of comedy skit, right? this is my favorite punchline
Convenience? Yep, I'll mortgage my future for that. LOL. </p>
<p>My memory could be faulty in my dotterage but I believe Astrife has made a score on the ACT and has the other qualifications for a full-ride at a top 100 LAC that they know about in their home state . Would I pay more for some schools than the generous one you are dissing? Yes, but not a lot more. My D would have to pay most of that difference. She'd be fully invested so to speak. </p>
<p>Kids, be thankful your underachieving folks can give you anything. My mom died when I was 19 and I've missed her every day since. She wasn't that smart about college stuff either. I've never thought about missing the money. </p>
<p>Hug your parents and detail their cars tomorrow.;)</p>
<p>It sucks when people take things in the perspective of parents. I busted my a** studying and taking the most rigorous courses, and succeeding in both academics and ECs. Its no easy work, and I excelled above everyone in school and took advantage of every oportunity I had, all this under a belief that one day I will be a student of my dream school. And when that chance comes, its ruined because parents cant pay or help out. I would work for long hours and all nighters just to do well on standardized tests so that I meet their standards. Trust me, its devastating, when dreams shatters right in front of your face.</p>