<p>Yes -- at the GRADUATE level, looking for MBA's. MOST students take time off after college to work before starting to pursue an MBA -- they tend to be older, financially independent students who can pay their own way. Students in those prestigious MBA programs come from all backgrounds and many have undergraduate degrees from public universities or smaller, less prestigious colleges.</p>
<p>OK now that I am called out and am here: nobody huh? Well since I am not aware of any acceptance that would justify this discussion I am thinking that we have turned this into a discussion about kids who are just finding out that money is a part of "gettin in".<br>
I am always hesitant to delve into this sensitive area but I do know that if a familiy qualifies for FA there is one version=The Gap. If the family doesn't qualify for FA and the kid is on his own: look to merit money.....</p>
<p>I do not feel that I am entitled, have worked hard for money while I have been in school, have not been home any summer since I have been in school and have worked hard before college and during college. </p>
<p>I am not lacking in compassion or empathy: I do think that choosing words when discussing OPM is important.</p>
<p>What type of jobare you thinking you will do for Lazard? There are many jobs......not all are the type of job me thinks you want.</p>
<p>The first post is extremely immature and I would look upon that person with disdain. HOWEVER, that person is caught between a rock and a hard place. No matter how immature s/he may seem, we need to at least have some compassion for his/her situation.</p>
<p>I am not without compassion.......I am not without empathy. It is hard to get a read on posts of this type. Was a FAFSA filed, was an effort made to apply to schools that offer merit aid? Did the student just find this out and is shocked and saddened not to mention angry? All of those situations would be possible but the OP didn't share that much. Rather the OP has dumped and run. </p>
<p>I of course would encourage any student in this situation to get mad and then get busy. Have patience and learn about loans and the options........find out about your FA offer is there is one. Take some time and try to explain to your folks, get a advocate who can explain to your folks if that is better. </p>
<p>My personal opine is that many families are in sticker shock, don't have much knowledge about funding college and rather than learn and work it out they react and cut off communitation. I am certain that many a dad feels embarassed and insecure when he cannot write a check each year for $45,000.00. The thing to remember is that most dad's cannot do that.</p>
<p>Price of the college and ways of paying for it should be discussed early on- so kids know where they stand and what they can afford.
It is frustrating to work hard and do not get expected outcome.
Solution- reevaluate your strategy, choose plan B, work even harder and achieve your goal. Hopefully it will be worth it :)</p>
<p>The problem with "compassion" is that we are all in the same boat. It's hard to feel sorry for someone who whines about being in a situation we all live with. </p>
<p>This is not a case of hardship -- no matter how you cut it, the problem is a kid who wants a luxury item (elite education) and is angry when the parents can't or won't provide it. </p>
<p>I understand that it is painful to not get what we want -- but this is the world that the vast majority of kids grow up in. The state universities and community colleges are full of kids who wish they could attend a better college. My son did not attend his first choice college because they didn't offer sufficient financial aid. Did I feel sad for my son? Yes, a little. But the bottom line was that he went to another college, and I've never heard a word of complaint from him.</p>
<p>My daughter is going to face the same barriers -- it is highly unlikely that she will get sufficient financial aid from her top choice colleges. We're just going to have to wait and see what happens. If the money doesn't come through, then she will go where I can afford to send her. And she'll thank me and show her gratitude for that support -- she's got sense enough to realize that she's better off than many of her classmates. She has a good friend who graduated 2 years ago whose parents are deceased - when he turned 18 his social security payments cut off. He got through high school living with his sister who was working her way through college as a waitress. So I think that no matter how much she might envy the kids whose parents can afford to send them to more expensive colleges, she also understands that she is fortunate to have a parent willing to provide a more modest level of support. </p>
<p>So again... its hard for me to feel very sorry for a kid whose basic complaint is that his parents aren't rich enough to buy him whatever he wants - and that he can't go to an elite college. What makes this kid better or more deserving than all the kids who attend public universities in their home states? My compassion is reserved for the many deserving kids I know who really have a much harder lot in life.</p>
<p>When you work your ass of in high school to attain perfect grades/ACT scores/EC's and you learn that your entire plan is shot because you parents are not willing to pay the Expected Family Contribution that the government determines through FAFSA it is a very frustrating feeling. I would gladly take ALL THE DEBT if i could, because I personally understand what the name can do for me. </p>
<p>And you all say that you should go out and get a job after high school and pay it for yourself.... well lets see... I've got about 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of med school, and 3+ years for residency before I make any money in the real world... I'd kinda like to start my schooling now...</p>
<p>Parents if you are making 200k a year... it's just wrong for you to tell your kid they can't go to stanford because they have to learn to make it on their own... as well all you parents who make something like 40k a year the EFC will be significantly lower for you, and is determined so that it is affordable for the kid to attend... And the schools I'm talking about top 50 or so provide 100% of the need estimated according to the gov't... so basically if a kid gets into yale... and they make 30k a year... the tuition will be reduced to a point that is affordable for the family... and the loans are a modest something like 2-3k a year... </p>
<p>And all you legal scholars out their miss one tiny point... I am legally dependent on my parents whether I like it or not until I am 24... go look it up... this isn't the 70's they updated the law so that kids cannot claim they are independent of their parents at 18 and potentially get more grants/scholarships from schools because they have 0 income... the only way outta the 24 line is to emancipate myself (which is usually what kids of crack addicts do) or get married (not very likely)</p>
<p>I am entitled to a great education... So what I am arrogant... I think it was Ted Turner who said his only flaw was that he wasn't modest enough... My entitlement is exemplified through my hardwork in high school... and if I end up making it into one of my reach schools I would expect my parents to be fully behind me... but they're not because they dont want to sacrifice a little to see their kid go far... it's lack of foresight combined with not fully grasping how financial aid at top schools work... </p>
<p>And I was not insulting any other schools as Cum mentioned...</p>
<p>All the parents making 200k+ probably didn't have to file FAFSA so they aren't on this forum... and as you guys have displayed you don't seem to know much more than my mom about financial aid...</p>
<p>You are like a sneeze without a handkerchief........icky and big ewwww factor.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you
Don't dump where you eat
Don't ask ignorant folks for help</p>
<p>I didn't I was ranting... I was hoping I could find more teenagers in my situation... but all I found was parents who get ****ed off when their kids success depends on their monetary contributions (which are scaled to make it affordable for all households mind you)...</p>
<p>from what I have seen EFC is about 1/3 to 1/4 for families of before tax income
Say your area requires 60K for a family of 4 to just barely make it, your EFC will be about $15,000.
This will not be easy to come up with, after all you need every penny of that after tax income to meet basic living expenses
A family who makes $100,000 may have an EFC of $25,000 but if you need $60,000 to survive and one family has $45,000 after their EFC is covered and another family has $75,000 after the EFC is covered, for which family is it going to be more affordable?</p>
<p>
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**I was hoping I could find more teenagers in my situation
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**</p>
<p>There are lots of kids in your situation.....who are looking for solutions, who are scared and want to go to any college and are searching for OPM and for support. You aren't alone in your need and disappointment.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am entitled to a great education... So what I am arrogant... I think it was Ted Turner who said his only flaw was that he wasn't modest enough... My entitlement is exemplified through my hardwork in high school... and if I end up making it into one of my reach schools I would expect my parents to be fully behind me... but they're not because they dont want to sacrifice a little to see their kid go far... it's lack of foresight combined with not fully grasping how financial aid at top schools work...
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This paragraph really bugs me. Where does it say: if you work hard, then your parents are required to put your welfare ahead of theirs? I'm pretty sure they work hard too. Why don't you try thinking of them for once? For the last time, you are NOT entitled to anything. To paraphrase from an MIT blog: An education is like wearing spandex in public; it is a privilege, not a right.</p>
<p>ok your making broad generalizations about "making it" in an area... the family with 100,000k per year will probably have more bills due to a bigger mortgage more expensive cars to be payed off etc..., as the family with 60k a year will have lower expenses... the 100,000k family and the 60,000k family were never on equal footing to begin with... one has nicer assests than the other... most areas have housing in a plethora of price ranges... and if a family doesn't own their own home then moving into a cheaper place so their son can go to a great school seems worth it to me... obviously if he does well there he'll be their retirement plan...</p>
<p>I have to say, if I were a parent, just from what I've seen of you on this forum, I'd have a hard time trusting you to look after me in my retirement.</p>
<p>Well essentially this is how the system works... I am 18 and as you say "adult"... but I am not allowed to disconnect myself from my family and designate myself as having 0 income... which would allow me to incurr all the debt associated with the education... so I am an adult in the sense that my parents owe me nothing... but I am not adult enough to take on the financial responsibility myself in the form of loans? It's just a contradicting system...</p>