<p>Well.. i go to private school which cost 33k a year w/o room and board
but i was award a lot of scholarships and financial aid and I pay about.. 700$ a year. Its all fine and dandy but i commute to school. It takes about 1 1/2 hrs to get to school and 1 1/2 hrs to get home. This sucks. its effecting my school work. I want to live on campus. Room and board going to cost me 12k a year. Money i don't have. I've talked to my parents about this and they said, fine whatever, live on campus. I'm stoked on living on campus but the financial burden placed on my parents, makes me uneasy. I couldn't pay for this myself so i have to rely on my parents. My parents aren't going to be happy about me asking for 12grand a year for living on campus. I don't know how to shrug off 13,000k a year for school. Im suppose to be working on a thesis for my 6 page paper but i cant get this off my mind. What do i do... =</p>
<p>If you're 1-1/2 hours away the school financial aid might figure in that you should be living on campus and award you more $. That's really far. When you applied, did the school figure room and board into the award?</p>
<p>Well, it's great you care about your parents money. Many college students don't seem to understand how much money that really is. My H commuted to school and was very determined that our kids live on campus for many of the same reasons you state.</p>
<p>So let's do some math. Subtract all the gas $$$ you spend, subtract car maintenance and wear and tear. You could drop your insurance 9 months a year if pressed. You will live too close to home for most insurance companies to give you a break.</p>
<p>Subtract the money your parents pay to feed you and the water you use at home. Heck at $4 for milk I save $35 a week just on milk having my son at college :) </p>
<p>Now you have 15 extra hours a week at least. Possibly get an on campus job in your field of study or some research that pays. Next year you could sign up for being a resident advisor and get room and board for free.</p>
<p>Anyway it really will be best to live at college. You will get more out of your classes and be able to join study groups if needed. You will not be putting your life on the line driving 3 hrs a day with todays insanely aggressive drivers. Hey, and if you are an insane crazy driver the world will be better of if you live at school too. :)</p>
<p>So do the math. You will find it's much less money than it appears. Good Luck...now about those roommates.........</p>
<p>If your parents agree to pay, then that's that - don't feel guilty about it. You should be proud to have received the scholarships that you did. That commute sounds onerous. You can always graduate, become a multi-millionaire and spoil them then.</p>
<p>yea, i dont drive, subway takes 1 1/2 hrs. and driving to school would take 1 hr and 15 minutes. Yea RA is a suggestion but what if i dont get accepted? im back to square one. Money puts me into depression. i see myself spending 400-500 dollars on crap to get rid of the idea of paying 12,000 a year.</p>
<p>So maybe you should talk to the financial aid office; I can see it would be a big hardship to be spending so much time on the road especially if you have some day and some night classes. </p>
<p>I know from experience that having any one of my teenagers out of the house for an extended period of time greatly decreases my food/water/heat/electric bill, so definitely figure out how much your mom and dad will save at home!</p>
<p>You have a mixed message in your post - you state:
--> "I've talked to my parents about this and they said, fine whatever, live on campus."
but then you state:
--> "My parents aren't going to be happy about me asking for 12grand a year for living on campus." </p>
<p>So which one is it? I doubt they'd offer if they felt they couldn't afford to pay it so if they offered, take them up on it. You can always offset it by working on-campus during the year and/or some in the summers and paying them some amount and/or paying it all back to them after you graduate if you're so inclined.</p>
<p>Pencil out what your spending now on the commute and food costs at home. This may reduce the cost of rm and bd and school. Having my D away at college greatly reduces my electricity bill for hot water... yes, it is noticable. </p>
<p>That may help. You have to sit down and do the math and place a value on the convience of being on campus and the effect on grades.. your arguement pro or con should pencil out that it is possibly not as expensive perspective wise, but a matter of shifting expenses...</p>
<p>ofcourse they want was best for me. i just don't think its fair to ask them to pay for my tuition, their in a tight spot right now. Dad bringing in 40,000 a year. Mom dont work. Own 2 homes in nyc some how...</p>
<p>Sounds like you would qualify for some of the lower interest loans. I agree with people above, you really should see if the financial aid office can find more aid for you.</p>