<p>It's (obviously) after May 1st, and I have sent in my statement of intent to enroll and my deposit to the school that I thought I'd be going to. For a while before this, my mother has been unhappy because I did not qualify for financial aid, and I did not get any scholarships, and it is over 45k a year. Her resentment grew until she put her foot down and said "I refuse to pay for this. You can't go there any more." (and she was NOT exaggerating) yeah, ok, except it's now May 26th. I'm graduating in one week. Everything is completely turned upside-down.</p>
<p>So after Memorial Day, I can drag myself down to the state public school and beg them to let me go there after I've turned them down already.</p>
<p>What does someone like me do in a situation like this? I'm desperate for advice. I haven't heard of something like this happening to anyone before. I honestly feel pretty screwed over because I was an NMS finalist and I traded my life for grades for 4 years, and now I may not even be able to go any college this fall.</p>
<p>Did you have an in-depth talk about finances with your mom before sending your deposit? Because this sounds as if you have decided which college to attend without considering your mom's (financial) interests and now this failure is coming back to haunt you. </p>
<p>If your mother is serious (and $45K are a legitimate reason) there is only one thing for you to do right now: Get in contact with the admission office of your state school or your counselor or better both asap.</p>
<p>Can your mom afford the $45K? A lot of parents don't understand financial aid until the offers don't come in. You'll do fine at your state school. They say that you don't have to go to the top college for success, just be accepted.</p>
<p>Well she was on my case about finances for 2 months, but she never outright said "There is no way you're going here" like she is now because she's my mom, and she wouldn't crush me like that until the situation finally blew up, which is now. My impression was that she could put me through undergrad, that it'd be rough but she'd make it, and I have a high chance of graduating in 3 years, so that'd save a lot. I guess it just doesn't work out that way.</p>
<p>I originally wanted to go to a school that was even more expensive (though arguably better) than the one I sent my deposit to, and my entire family (grandparents, aunt, uncle, everybody) talked me down from it. But now they don't even want me going to my 2nd choice. It's almost like haggling, so horrible.
Just my luck that it's a 3-day weekend and I have to wait until Tuesday to do something about this.</p>
<p>You should also contact the college you sent your deposit to; they may be able to dig up some money. Have you pursued all corprate sponsors for NMS? Perhaps you mother would let you attend for a year to give you time to transfer if state u. is uncooperative. If not, perhaps gap year could be spent doing something very attractive to attract merit money or need money at a more generous school.</p>
<p>I live in Colorado. If I went to CU, my mom could put me through all 4 years of undergrad and have enough money left over to never work again and live happily for the rest of her life.</p>
<p>I am pretty much so stunned now that my mind is pretty much blanking, and I figure going to the state school won't be the worst thing that's ever happened to me (although considering how lucky I've been thus far, it probably is.) but the question is, will they still want me as much after I've already rejected them? (the first time I applied, there was guaranteed admission for in-state freshmen who met certain minimum criteria.) If I have to reapply, would I be applying as a new student again? There are so many weird questions unique to this situation that I have to wait 3 days to ask...</p>
<p>Is there still time for NMS business? (I didn't know that I could pursue the corporate sponsors myself. Doesn't NMS send the finalists' info to the sponsors, then the sponsors choose who they want to award?) I talked to my mom about transfering back after a year, and that made her even more livid. She thinks there's no point in throwing away even one year's tuition and expenses if I'm just going to come back.</p>
<p>By taking a gap year, do you mean terminating my enrollment with the school I sent my deposit? Or is it the kind where the school reserves my spot and lets me have an off year as long as I don't spend it going to another college? (In that case, would I even be allowed to apply to other schools?)</p>
<p>Before, USC also was offering me their half-tuition scholarship for NMS finalists who pick USC as their 1st choice, but I turned them down. Now I've lost that opportunity too...</p>
<p>Since you wisely conclude that going to the state school wouldn't be the end of the world why don't you try this first and then re-post to explore other options if this doesn't work out. Please let us know what happens. A young woman with your abilities will succeed.</p>
<p>oh and another thing. Which office should I contact at the school that I sent my deposit to? Admissions? Financial Aid? I'm pretty sure they won't give me anything (I tried to appeal my fin aid decision a while ago and it failed), so it's more important to talk to the office that can tell me what my options are concerning gap years, terminating my enrollment, etc.</p>
<p>It is a shame your mother did not discuss how much she was willing to pay sooner. As things stand now, maybe you would be better off just starting over again with applications for fall 2008, and applying to a new list of schools chosen based on the possibility of merit aid (and not asking the current school to give you a gap year, since they do not seem willing to give you any aid). I don't think you'd be in the running for any NMS money (seems to be a one-time thing), but it sounds like your stats should earn you some school aid. If you are still unable to bring the costs down to a level that is acceptable to your mom, maybe you can get her to help you with loans. You definitely need to know what your options are, though, before you go through so much effort again. </p>
<p>If you think you'd be happy at your state school and would be able to get what you want/need from it academically, that would also be a good option to consider. I think you should definitely call them and explain your situation. Good luck.</p>
<p>You wrote you graduate in one week, but you're still a student today! Go to your counselor's office and explain your dilemma, have the counselor contact CU and see if there is a way to change your mind and enroll. </p>
<p>Also don't give up if the first answer you hear is "no". The first call is likely to go to a clerk in the office. If they know a procedure for doing what you need they'll tell you, otherwise they're likely to say "sorry, can't be done". At which point you need to speak to the admissions counselor for your area, and if still no luck then finally the director of admissions. See <a href="http://www.colorado.edu/prospective/counselors/cu-counselors.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.colorado.edu/prospective/counselors/cu-counselors.html</a> You might be thinking "why not start at the top?" but you need to follow the chain because they first thing the secretary for the dean is going to ask when you call is whether you've called the other people already.</p>
<p>It is in their interest to have students with high board scores and GPA, so you may be in good shape!</p>
<p>As far as the misunderstanding with your mother goes - you may look back at this some day as a valuable lesson, if you learn from it. </p>
<p>Contact the state school ASAP. If possible, do set up a time to meet with them in person - like tomorrow. It will increase your chances of getting in.</p>