<p>I have to agree with HImom for meerkat. if you are planning on med school, keep your costs down and attend UW. It is a great school and will prepare you for med school without the added financial burden. </p>
<p>Our D has a car at USC (has since she was a freshman) on campus parking isn’t hard, but you do pay for it. It works for us, but is not necessary. She does not really drive around LA, with the new metro lines she uses the public transportation. She uses the car to come home from time to time (every couple of months or so). </p>
<p>Our kids have used a car for SR year, as well as job interviews (though they could have used SmartCar, as nephew did at Pamona). It was not really NECESSARY, but hopefully will once D gets her internship/job as a new graduate. </p>
<p>Hey, just an update in case anyone was curious or cared or had advice-</p>
<p>USC gave me 2,000 in loans, close to zip, and UW gave me zip and the scholarships I applied to I didn’t get. Either school will leave me with about 100,000/80,000 at uw, in debt. I’m working but even if i saved up everything I’ve made by now and through summer it won’t make a dent haha</p>
<p>I was also under the impression that my parents were going to help me somewhat with college but I was totally wrong about that too! wake up call I guess.</p>
<p>I am disheartened of course but what can ya do? I’m assuming situations like these are fairly normal? And I was thinking about appealing financial aid or looking into scholarships but I also think its a bit late.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice. I’ll keep thinking about USC and dreaming about the campus ( i recently visited and it was gorgeous and happy and everyone was friendly and lovely) and I guess we’ll see what happens.</p>
<p>There are always other options! (community college? taking dominican university of california’s scholarship offer? crawling into the USC financial aid office on my knees and begging for help…just kidding 
… )
-m </p>
<p>Unfortunately, if your parents won’t contribute but have the finances, you are not going to get financial aid. You will not be considered independent of their income until 24 in most situations. Community college or free ride somewhere should be considered in these circumstances. </p>
<p>I wish things had been better for you.</p>