<p>Okay, so even though I'm only a sophomore, I feel like I have to begin persuading my parents to let me go to a far away college because my mother is adamant on me attending a college that is within an eight hour drive. Admitedly (sp?) I live in the mid atlantic so that leaves me like all of New England, PA, NJ, etc which is good but my favorite match school is Reed which is on the other side of the country. So, how should I slowly start persuading them to let me go 8 hours by plane instead of by car?</p>
<p>Eh, don't complain, my parents forbid me from applying past Virginia and Boston (I'm in Jersey).</p>
<p>^ I agree. My dad refuses to let me even think about any college out of Florida, although my mom is a lot more supportful and said she'll help me afford to go to any college I want in the US.</p>
<p>Don't worry about this. Back when I was a sophomore, my parents were bent on me going to a UC for distance (Mom: "Don't apply to UCSD! It's too far from home!" -- I live in SF btw.) They were so bent on keeping me close home it was ridiculous lol But guess what?</p>
<p>I applied to Harvard, Princeton, and Brown rofl. Of course, with their consent. And that's WAYYYYYY farther than UCSD from where I live.</p>
<p>Chances are, if you work hard enough and persuade your parents you just want to apply "just for kicks", they'll always wonder if their child could've gotten into _____, in your case Reed.</p>
<p>8 hours by car is a long way. You would usually want to fly that distance anyway.</p>
<p>had the same problem.. we had an argument, but i can now go to harvard</p>
<p>You would have to convince them that Reed is extremely unique and a similar school cannot be found within driving distance.
This in fact, is true. Peruse the Reed website and start developing a well thought out argument. You should include why it is academically, socially, and culturally special.
It would also be just as difficult, although maybe cheaper, to drive from midatlantic to Maine or Mass, versus flying to Portland. Direct flights from Portland to East Coast are a bit over 5 hours.
Good Luck. You have a year and half to work on them.</p>
<p>Definitely don't tell them that one of the main reasons you want to go there is because it's so far away (lololol - not that this IS one of your reasons, just saying)</p>
<p>I have a similar issue- my parents want me to stay in the Midwest, but I'm interested in several New England schools.
Talk up the school's interesting points, those that can't be found in closer schools. In your case, you may want to mention Reed's status as a "College that Changes Lives", the senior thesis, etc. Also you can point out that eight hours driving isn't exactly close, and you'd be closer to Reed flying than to a school eight hours away driving, though that tactic may backfire.</p>
<p>It worked for me sort of, and I wanted reed too, but things change big time.... regardless, you fake depression hard core for about 2 months, do not hang out with your friends, spend time alone in your room, fake sick a lot if you can, but never tell your parents you are depressed. If that doesn't work, try to play one parent off against the other, so at least one is on your side.</p>
<p>My parents are freaked out about me being 4 states away.</p>
<p>However, they're not at all afraid of me driving 26 hours. They're just afraid of me being on a plane alone...=/</p>
<p>A lot of parents are really close minded on how far their kids go. You have to bug the hell out of them.</p>
<p>Just keep talking to them. I started telling my mother that my dream school was Cambridge when I was in 8th grade. She hated the idea, but now that I'm halfway through 11th grade, she's okay with the idea.</p>
<p>It's not that my parents really care about the 8 hour thing, they just thing that's a reasonable distance, even if I were to fly. Basically thats southern NC to Boston give or take a bit.</p>