<p>my parents have pretty much said to me if i dont get into a top school, they're simply gonna send me to rutgers because its cheap.</p>
<p>im only a junior and hoping to change their mind by the time i apply for school</p>
<p>but worst case senario, if i were to choose a school my parents were not willing to pay for, (from anyone's experience??) is it possible for a student to pay for a tution of up to 30k/year through student loans and multiple jobs??</p>
<p>im 16. i dont have money saved up or anything. i dont have a car, nothing. is this even plausible??</p>
<p>Probably only plausible if your family has a low- or low-middle income, where your EFC would get you a need package. And don't sell Rutgers short as a motivated student can get a fine education there.</p>
<p>If your parents see you working hard, taking school seriously, and making a commitment to the college search process, are they likely to change their minds? (I hope so.)</p>
<p>Good thing you are starting to think about these issues now.
Worst case scenario is not doable. A top school costs $43k (tuition, room & board, health insurance, student fees, and incidentals), and will cost more over the next four years. Working during term time and summer might bring down the cost to $30k a year, but that would leave you with $120k of debt when you graduate. This would have a huge impact on your career choices.
If you are a good student, you may qualify for merit aid at some excellent colleges such as Grinnell. CC has threads on colleges which offer merit aid. Do a search. Your family also may qualify for need-based aid. Sometimes, it is actually a better deal to apply to a school that gives generous financial aid or merit aid than limiting oneself to the state university.
You need to sit down with your parents to discuss how much they can realistically contribute to your education. You also need to being thinking about what kind of college would most suit you. Rutgers is a good school. It may not be for everybody, but you and your parents should consider how much is it worth to go to a different school. You and they should not get hung up on prestige (HYP or bust) but consider issues of fit, socially and academically, and the likelihood of financial aid.</p>
<p>Search for schools that really truly fit you (instead of just the "top" schools). I think that most parents are more likely to contribute if they feel their kid is likely to get an excellent education (which is completely possible to find at a school without a huge brand name).<br>
If your parents are still hardheaded about you attending Rutgers, ask if they could pay the exact same amount that they would pay to Rutgers to the school of your choice and have you foot the difference through merit aid, loans, and whatever money you have earned through working (summer jobs and otherwise). (Depending on your family's financial situation, you could also possibly get a "loan" from your parents that you would pay off following your graduation from college). Offering to pay part of your tuition shows your parents that you really are interested in your education, and it also gives you incentive to do well and make the best of your time in college.
Overall, don't worry about it too much...the more you press them about it early on, the more likely they are to resist you later. When you start getting decision letters, let your attitudes about the schools seep into conversations...hearing you talk about 1 or 2 schools nonstop for 2 or 3 months would show that you have a real committment to your learning and attending the school that you want to go to.</p>
<p>Among the factors to consider when you choose a school is whether you'll get your money's worth. I don't know what your parents mean by "top" but like with any purchase I'd consider whether the additional tuition $ = increased value (however defined). It seems that your parents have identified schools for which they believe the increased tuition would be worth it. If you have additional schools to add to their list, I'd encourage you to consider a compelling argument as to why these schools would be worth the monetary investment. I, too, would not sell Rutgers short.</p>