parents won't let me go to ga tech..help

<p>well just recently my parents told me they would not let me go to ga tech..or any school out of state for that matter. they think i just want to go to college to 'party', which is completely untrue because if i wanted to party i would definitely go to a different school than ga tech..there is no school in my state that offers bme as a major, which is what i want to study. i have gotten excellent grades in high school as well..and plan to at ga tech as well. cost is not an issue since i just recently received inheritance money from a grandparent that i get when im 18. so heres the problem..im currently 17..18 in july, but the legal age of majority where i live is 19..so would i be able to go ga tech at 18 without them doing anything since the age of majority there is 18? ahh i'm so confused, there truley are no decent engineering schools in the state i live, and i tried so hard in high school and cost isn't an issue? i can pay the enrollment/housing deposits out of my own pocket..so can parents do anything about this?</p>

<p>I take it that you’re in Alabama? First, have you looked into whether or not Alabama has a tuition reciprocity agreement with Georgia for BME (granting you in-state tuition)? I know South Carolina does for several engineering majors.</p>

<p>Second, if you move to Georgia, then you’re governed by the laws of Georgia, in which case being 18 makes you an adult. If you’re in GA, and can pay tuition out of pocket, then there’s nothing they can do to stop you. The big problem would be if they have the inheritance in their bank account or if your parents are also on your bank account. Under that case, they could block you from accessing that money, at least until you could get it into a bank account in GA solely in your name (assuming your over 18 and establish residency in GA). </p>

<p>I think a bigger question is why they aren’t allowing you to leave the state and why they don’t trust you. Does the inheritance not cover the full tuition? Are they just over protective? People do things for a reason, and understanding their reasoning is key.</p>

<p>Another option is to attend Alabama or Auburn for a year then transfer to Tech. That would give you time to argue the point with them (especially if you have good grades). Sometimes, even if you can legally do something against your parent’s wishes, it’s better to work things out instead.</p>

<p>If you are really intent on going against your parents wishes you would be best off to contact a lawyer. It is not likely anyone on this forum can give you any trustworthy legal advice. I presume you live in Delaware, Nebraska, or Alabama? </p>

<p>Some questions you might want to ponder with your parents to get them to look at their stance:</p>

<p>Do your parents have any reason to believe you are the type that would not focus and would just party? If not, why don’t they not trust you?</p>

<p>What makes them think you would not be able to party just as much at an in-state school?</p>

<p>Until you reach the age of majority in your state, you cannot exercise the rights of an adult, even if the age of majority is different in another state. The only way to get around the age of majority is to petition for emancipation from your parents. Rules and requirements for doing this vary by state. If you truly wish to do this, contact a lawyer. Keep in mind that any attempt to “go around” your parents could put further strain on your relationship and may have undesired consequences. Your parents are looking out for what they perceive to be your best interest. Try to see and understand things from their point of view as you move forward. Approaching the situation by acting in a way that shows that you understand their concerns may help you convince them, or allow you to see that maybe they are correct.</p>

<p>Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer or a certified counselor. Keep in mind that my advice is nothing more than the advice of a fellow high school senior trying to give one perspective to your situation. Any actions you take from this point on with your parents or a lawyer should be carefully considered and made only when you understand fully the consequences of such actions and while you are in a stable state of mind.</p>

<p>Best wishes!</p>

<p>i’m currently in nebraska, and the money covers all of the tuition and then some, so cost is not the issue. earlier this year i received an mip, and stayed out past curfew, drank, ect. several times. however, the school they want me to go (unl) is MUCH more of a party school than ga tech. i see how trust is an issue, but sending me to a state school so they can ‘monitor my behavior’ better seems foolish, ga tech’s engineering is much better, and i am much less likely to ‘party’ at ga tech than unl. just not wondering if they could do anything if i enrolled at ga tech in the fall without their support/permission</p>

<p>The following outlines emancipation in the State of Nebraska:[How</a> to get emancipated in Nebraska - Labor Law Talk Blog](<a href=“http://blog.laborlawtalk.com/2006/11/17/how-to-get-emancipated-in-nebraska/]How”>http://blog.laborlawtalk.com/2006/11/17/how-to-get-emancipated-in-nebraska/)</p>

<p>From what I read, you do not meet the requirements for emancipation. Since there is no other way, besides turning 19, to gain the legal rights of an adult in the state of Nebraska, you would likely not be able to enroll at Georgia Tech without your parents permission.</p>

<p>The money you inherited might allow you to pay for college and support yourself away from home, but you cannot access that money until you are have reached the age of majority; it is essentially not your money until you turn 19.</p>

<p>So, either you successfully convince your parents that you would be more likely to be responsible at Georgia Tech before May 1, or you can attend another school and transfer later. </p>

<p>Attending UNL would allow you to save money, regain your parents trust, and establish the grades and credits necessary to transfer. You would not likely be taking engineering courses at Georgia Tech until your junior and senior years(depending on your AP credits). This means you could very easily take your intro english, science, and math courses at UNL and then transfer and get your degree from Tech, all without alienating your parents. Given your situation, this seems like the best option…</p>

<p>Do you need your parents’ permissions to matriculate? I’m not sure exactly what needs to be signed.</p>

<p>If not, if you can manage to get some private loans, you can pay the first year’s tuition back when the money becomes available to you.</p>

<p>You cannot get loans as a minor without parental consent…</p>

<p>But she doesn’t need loans. She also does not need permissions since she’s not entering a contract with Georgia Tech. In addition, FERPA laws apply at 18 regardless of state laws, so as soon as she turns 18, her parents have no authority over enrollment or records her at any college, even UNL. </p>

<p>And once she moves to GA and establishes residency in GA, she’s an adult by GA guidelines. The only major problem would be if she had a NE bank account.</p>

<p>She does need loans if she has no access to money, which she doesn’t until she is 19 or has her parents permission to use her funds…</p>

<p>And she cannot establish Georgia residency simply by enrolling at GT. She would have to prove that she moved to the state for the main purpose of employment or the employment of a guardian. Since this is not the case, she cannot establish residency in Georgia.</p>

<p>She is 18 and can therefore claim residency by moving to Atlanta (including a dorm), then applying for a driver’s license and changing her voters registration. That won’t get her in-state tuition, but that would make her a Georgia resident. </p>

<p>If I read her comment correctly, it sounds like she has the money either sitting in a bank account or trust. If that’s the case, she can move to GA, transfer the money to her GA account, then her parents can’t touch it.</p>

<p>Maybe, depending on the bank. She would need to to have money to get to Atlanta and rent a place to stay in order to establish residency. And if the bank is in Nebraska, that may present problems.</p>

<p>Why? What’s the big deal about opening a new account in Georgia?
Turns 18 in July.
Funds available @ 18/In July
Classes start/payment due in August.
Open a bank account in Georgia . Transfer some funds over to the Georgia account.
Establish residency and go to college where you want to.
If money isn’t an issue- OOS tuition (for the first part) shouldn’t be a deal breaker
** This is something you should try to work out with your parents if at all possible- You may regret your choice in the future.
A lot of good advice has been posted previously. Options are available. You’ll be able to figure it out
Even with an OOS bank account,she can still access her funds/pay her bills. ( Debit card / Cashiers Checks…)</p>

<p>I agree with georgia30135. This is really something you should work out with you parents. I am sure your parents have good reasons for their decision although you may not understand it now.</p>

<p>You can’t get in-state tuition in Georgia by establishing residency during college, so she’d be OOS the entire time.</p>

<p>The issue with opening a GA bank account is that, as a minor, her parents have access to her account in NE. As an adult, that’s not the case in GA.</p>