You’re very strong and mature for your age. Let us know if you need any help with anything, and feel free to update us with your college journey!
Let us know if we can help - if you need an emergency essay reader for instance.
Where did you decidde to apply?
OP: can you ask your parents to help you create a budget and a plan to pay for college? Pick a college or two that they like and work the numbers with them. They may not change their minds after working the numbers but at least they’ll have a better understanding of what you’re dealing with.
Also, if the opportunity arises, you might want to point out that you look forward to being able to help family in “the old country” after you graduate and pay off your debts. From an investment perspective, they may come to realize that spending money on you up front will benefit the family in the long run. (This is only if you actually want to be involved at this level.)
As you said, you aren’t going to change their minds but you seem to want to keep a good relationship with them. So asking for their advice and support in financial planning will benefit everyone.
@citymama9 Of course, I’ll update as frequently as possible
@MYOS1634 I’d greatly appreciate that; I have a couple of essays. Could I PM them to you for a quick critique?
@nw2this UPitt Honors, U Alabama Huntsville, U Alabama Ole Miss, and U Richmond
@mommdc Just read your comment, not female
@Otterma Thanks for the suggestion. I will, certainly. But it’s something I’d prefer to do over break because I have finals in two weeks and I’m applying to all the full-ride universities right now.
OP, you might want to ask your parents to look at the net price calculator for your state flagship with you. They may honestly have no idea how much college costs these days.
Note that these are not full ride, although UAH is full tuition plus housing. The remaining costs after a full tuition scholarship may be difficult to self fund on just a federal direct loan and some work earnings.
U New Mexico is rated higher for undergrad engineering than any of these and it is closer to a full ride.
Alabama may give add’l money for an ACT 35.
Also, once this student has his UAH offer in hand, he can contact Alabama (he can PM me and I’ll give the name of the contact person) and see if Bama will upgrade his offer.
Interested in the military? ROTC could add more choices.
@faren1930 if you need another essay reader, I’m a high school English teacher.
@faren1930 : sure, go ahead
@mom2collegekids really? I’ve been accepted at UA with a 35 ACT (3.83/4.3 UW/W), and I was considering UAH because of their more generous scholarship (and comparable engineering program). Would UA be willing to negotiate their scholarship? If so, could you PM me the contact info as well? Thanks!
I do think that anyone asking any school to match a scholarship offer better be willing to go to that school if they match the offer. Otherwise you may be burning the bridge for anyone else.
@njturner, I don’t think @mom2collegekids or UA can do much for a family whose EFC is $50k. OP has a special situation and maybe the college will be moved to do a little something. But your parents are willing to pay $20-30k/year; that’s an entirely different situation.
@austinmshauri “Alabama may give add’l money for an ACT 35.” + “UAH offer in hand”
That seemed like a general statement, not based on financial need. Not to mention the fact that this thread’s OP could have a very high EFC as well. I might be wrong, though.
If I remember correctly, the OP’s parents make around $150k @njturner
Another thing to add for University of Alabama. Ended up being a full ride for my DS due to not only the auto merit scholarship he received but UA allows you to STACK scholarships, meaning all the departmental and outside scholarships he stacked on top of his merit scholarships making the school free. Any leftover the university sends us a check. It’s been fantastic. The only caution is that your parents will have to pay taxes on the overage as that is considered income.
OP - you need to look at LSU. You might be eligible for significant $ there
https://sites01.lsu.edu/wp/financialaid/entering-freshman-scholarships/
@intparent They do; they know exactly how much it costs. But they equally know that I could get a full ride.
@nw2this Thanks, I’ll take a look at UNM! Also, I have a disease (not too rare) that automatically DQs me for any military service, so that’s not an option
@SOSConcern That’s my main concern w/ negotiating an offer. I may get better aid and be able to pay on my own at better school.
@maroon79 Thanks, I’ll check out LSU
@rebeccar @MYOS1634 Thank you!