<p>I'm not trying to beat up on OP's parents but, (Post #41): "My dad really wants to see me go to Bryn Mawr but..." I can't help but think that she was lead down the path to apply to and fall in love with BMC, then be hit with the reality. A little reality up front before applications were written, even it was along the lines of "Go ahead and apply, but the school will have to give you $$$ if they want you to go there," would have helped.</p>
<p>And that might be, for all we know, precisely what happened, and now the parents as well as OP, feel bad about it.</p>
<p>this happens quite often, sadly :(</p>
<p>Very true, adofficer--I've had parents tell me that they let Junior apply to Harvard because they didn't want to crush his dreams, but they really could not afford to send him there should he be admitted. They are counting on Harvard to deny admission, and they have a 9/10 chance of being right.</p>
<p>But if lightning should strike and Junior gets in...</p>
<p>Momwaitingfornew -
didn't mean to dis parrots (some of my best friends have them), but it just was just the last straw for the poor kid. I don't think be knew what the granite countertop cost, but he did know the parrot's pricetag.</p>
<p>No worries, Ohio Mom. I wasn't offended. I just know that the purchase of, say, an English Boxer wouldn't have seemed as frivolous to many.</p>
<p>The cost of an education and its long-term financial implications is a sensitive topic for most. I'm glad that my decisions allowed my daughter to attend a good LAC, but I realize that, just as easily, I could have made the wrong ones.</p>
<p>
[quote]
To respond to mom60--two 30 yr. olds who can't afford to pay for a gymnastics class (that costs what--$15-20 per session at a private club and probably less at a community rec program) for their daughter sound like losers to me. I don't think the OP falls into that category.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What? If not being able to afford gymnastics makes one a loser, there are a lot of losers around. Gymnastics is expensive. Per hour, especially at the lower levels, which finance the upper levels where no could possibly afford to pay the rate per one hour for 20-30 hours. Do you really think everyone can afford $15-20 per session? Once again I am amazed by how financially out of touch with reality the upper middle class is (and believe me, no bitterness, we are more than comfortable and have actually spent an exorbitant amount over more than a decade on what else - gymnastics. But I see this constantly in the kids around me. They have no concept of what it is to not have tens of thousands in disposible income each year). Gymnastics clubs don't sell "per session" for the most part BTW. The best deal you'll get is per month, probably over $100 per month for classes once a week. But because they want you to commit and pay, many ask for two months or more - sometimes even six months for a "semester". It isn't as easy as picking and choosing when you can afford it. Gymnastics may be slightly more affordable than figure skating and equestrian activities, but it's still one of the more expensive and least accessible sports. </p>
<p>Actually I was just saying to some people, if I had one criticism for the gymnastics community, it is that it has remained too exclusive, too out of reach for many who could benefit from it. IMO the community has made a poor effort to reach outside privilege. I realize that many "like" sports and activities haven't either, but personally if we really believe our sport is worth it, then we have no real excuse from the action (non-action) of others. I realize that it would probably in many ways be very unrealistic to expect that someone without money could ever reach the top levels of the sport, not without drastic changes, but I'm talkng even just reaching out for classes, introduction, fun. There is no outreach. This would be my main criticism of the gymnastics community and culture at large.</p>
<p>
Actually, that's exactly what happened. My parents lost a ton of money on their first house and got married late. Then they got good paying government jobs, but as part of their long term plans for retirement decided that they needed to invest in the house so as to raise the value. If you're curious, they're aged 55 and 61.</p>
<p>I know I'm going to get a lot of "you're screwed!" comments, and I know this goes against ALL the advice here, but I have decided that I'm going to Bryn Mawr. My parents can pay the first two years; it's the third year where we run into trouble. It looks like they can probably pay for most, if not all, of the third year. So I would have the fourth year all to myself. (Hooray.) God willing, I will get a good job offer. I've already decided I want to study Arabic (has a culture I'm interested in and it's a non-Romantic language), and I just learned the other day that there are good job offers for people who speak the language well. (There are even people who don't speak the language very well getting good job offers).</p>
<p>If I have to pay debt until the day I die, well, fine. I guess that's the way it's going to be. I have a feeling I'm coming off as incredibly naive. Maybe it's true, I don't know the demons that lurk beyond my four years at Bryn Mawr. In response to CLDad, I do NOT feel like I have been lead to apply to Bryn Mawr. I didn't even want to apply in the first place. I applied kicking and screaming (along with applying to Mount Holyoke). My second campus visit a few months ago just confirmed that it's the place for me. To put a long story short: I'm going to work my ass off in the next four years to get as much money as I can (through scholarships and jobs), and just deal with the college debt. If any of you have any advice for me beyond this point, feel free to contribute. Good news, though: we got another $2,000 in grant aid per year because the guy who did our FAFSA/CSS for us screwed up some numbers.</p>
<p>I have a friend going to St. Mary's College of Maryland next year as a freshman, and she's truly very excited about it. She thinks it's amazing, and it was her first choice, but that's her. But if you don't love it, you don't love it. It's your life and your choice, you know?
Congratulations on your extra aid, that's fantastic.</p>
<p>there are a lot of scholarships you can apply for, you will be suprised and what you can get. If your going to BM your already just by default not dumb and should easily have good enough grades /scores to qualify you for a lot of merit scholarships that are available. </p>
<p>Additionally if you take summer school you might be able to cut off about half a year or so from your education .</p>
<p>Also, i dont know where BM is located, but if its in a town with lots of high schools you can offer tutoring on the weekends for 20-25 / hour for AP classes or other courses you may specialize in, just put an add in the paper.</p>
<p>If you tutor for 10 hours a month thats an extra 200 dollars.</p>
<p>Also, my biggest suggestion, since your parents have money, take out slightly less loans than you are offered. If you/ your parents are offerd 50k , take out 45k. maybe even less. For one you will still be able to manage with a little less, secondly in case you do run a little low your parents can help you, but based on most students the budget is usually more than enough if you know how to spend your money wisely.</p>
<p>Also , usually schools offer you X amount of units per semester for x amount of money, if you have the time utilize all the units possible and you may be able to graduate earlier than planned. Even a half a year can save you A LOT of money in the long run. </p>
<p>I think all and all if your really wise with your spending you can get out with right around 50k debt.</p>
<p>
O.K. I'll buy all that but it still doesn't explain this: </p>
<p><a href="At%20BMC">quote=OP</a> Well, I would be paying about half of it, and my parents would pay about half..........</p>
<p>As for St. Mary's, I would still pay half and they would pay half of the total costs.
[/quote]
What kind of math is that? Half of Bryn Mawr when you have a $42K EFC is a lot more than half of St. Mary's (even without any merit aid) . If St. Mary's is instate for OP (I can't remember) those numbers aren't even THAT close. Let's just use half of direct costs of $46,000 at BMC and what, $20K at St. Mary's in-state ?</p>
<p>They'll find $23K a year at BMC but only $10K at St. Mary's? There is something more than just money issues driving these parents to these decisions. If you can pay half of BMC you can pay 100% of St. Mary's in-state. ;) Somebody is teaching a life lesson IMO. Get the kid invested in their education by having them pay half, no matter what the costs are to the parents. I guess it's a legitimate parental choice, but just not one I'd make. We agreed to pay/borrow basically state school type coinage but that number didn't go down when D switched to a zero cost school. She just put it over to her Med school quarter million costs. </p>
<p>2006-07 Cost of Attendance
MARYLAND RESIDENT OUT-OF-STATE STUDENT
Tuition & Fees $ 11,418 $ 21,260 </p>
<p>Room: 4,820 4,820
Board: 3,700 3,700
Direct costs: $ 19,938 $ 29,780</p>
<p>BMC Expenses 2007-2008</p>
<p>Tuition and Fees $33,840<br>
Room and Board $11,024<br>
Health and Activities Fee $570<br>
SGA Fee $240 </p>
<hr>
<p>$ 45,674 (Direct Costs)</p>
<p>Estimated cost for books, supplies and personal expenses: $2,000.</p>
<p>Newchick, you're going to love Bryn Mawr. </p>
<p>BTW, since students must re-apply for aid every year, you never know what you'll get in later years. Who knows? Maybe your ending debt load will be less than you think.</p>
<p>Well, the decision has been made and it is obvious that the parents have been very clear with their daughter about what they will contribute. I think it is a legitimate course for a family to follow.</p>
<p>I haven't read every post, so apologize if repeating.</p>
<p>newchick - Look for an RA situation at BMC as soon as it is available to you (sophomore year?); will cover some portion of your room and board, anyway.</p>
<p>
[quote]
What kind of math is that? Half of Bryn Mawr when you have a $42K EFC is a lot more than half of St. Mary's (even without any merit aid) . If St. Mary's is instate for OP (I can't remember) those numbers aren't even THAT close. Let's just use half of direct costs of $46,000 at BMC and what, $20K at St. Mary's in-state ?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It may be that the parents are finding the money out of their incomes, not savings, and that they anticipate a drop in income (perhaps because of a parent's retirement) around the time the student starts her third year of college.</p>
<p>I have maintained for many years that students taking on excessive debt are sacrificing the freedom to make important choices following graduation. </p>
<p>What if it means that you will have to move back to your parents home because you cannot afford your own apartment following graduation?</p>
<p>Forget pre-law as a major because you will not be able to afford any professional school following graduation/</p>
<p>Your friends want to get away for a week in Cozumel? Sorry guys, i got that pesky loan payment due next week.</p>
<p>Dream job offer in a large metropolitan area? No way you can swing the cost of living there so kiss that opportunity goodby.</p>
<p>And we could go on and on.</p>
<p>Like I said large student loans will take away your freedom to make some tremendously important life choices following graduation.</p>
<p>Is four years at BMC or any other college worth that sacrifice? Particularly when you could have a wonderful 4 years at a place like the College of St Marys as an alternative?</p>