Your opinion on financial aid

<p>We all watch it (how can we not?), and then we point out the errors. Plus it's really fun playing "Spot the City!" during the pageant - they're all real, except for wherever it takes place. But seriously. Comic gold.</p>

<p>[Southern accent]Dang yeah, Phil![/Southern accent]</p>

<p>Hahahahaha...<em>gasps</em> Bwahahahahaha.</p>

<p>Mmmm...yeah, you're going to have to do that accent for me in real life, kat. lol. just imagining that...and "heyyyyyy!" hahaha!</p>

<p>[saves kitten from tree]</p>

<p>Yeah, the "Heeyyy!!!" was pretty priceless, I must admit. :)</p>

<p>Actually, I'll post that story for the RDers who missed it, lol.....
(from my xanga)

[quote]

OK, I just got HUGELY embarrassed. My mom called, "Phone!" from downstairs, and since I was expecting a call from a friend, I picked it up and said, "Heeyyy!" (read: loud, overly-bright/cheery Southern accent.)</p>

<p>Well, it was a Harvard adcom, asking about my course schedule. <em>Cringe</em> :o</p>

<p>Hopefully they just thought I was a friendly Southerner.......oh, wow.

[/quote]

That was last week, yeah. :)</p>

<p>I'm still confused.... how do you put a strong Southern accent on a one-syllable word? Loved the story but I never really got that part. Must be because I'm from the Northern part of the country. :p</p>

<p>it's all in the "ey" part. There is a way to make it sound distinctly southern. The southern "heyyyyy" is very popular in Texas. Perhaps we'll have to get someone to demonstrate sometime...</p>

<p>Kat1, I assure you it's possible.
Southerners can drag a full 2 (and sometimes 3) syllables out of most 1-syllable words. It takes talent. ;)</p>

<p>oh yeah, southern accents can do amazing things to syllable counts (and yes, I've got an amazingly convincing fake Texas accent). Also, it's soda up here.</p>

<p>in less than an hour, my board has been overrun by irrelevant comments...most of which feature something edible....sigh :(
aw, who am i kidding? i love you guys! :)</p>

<p>oh, and a note to NEOBEZ if he/she ever happens to revisit this thread
it IS a decision
it IS a TOUGH decision
when its no longer a decision, i will consider my rights as an american violated
i'd rather not go to college than deplete my parents' savings (which i understand they have worked several decades to accumulate and provide me with an amazing life)
for you kids who go to pricy private schools and have mommy and daddy with seven figure jobs: conrats! i wish you the best.
but my mommy and daddy dont make six figures. as apalling as it sounds, princeton is expensive to us. so please, learn to DEAL W/ IT.
Contract or no contract, if we simply cant afford it, im simply not going.
to my critics, i would like to reassert that princeton remains my first choice and that i did not apply to simply "see if i got in".</p>

<p>If you really want to go to Princeton, call the financial aid office and see if they can up your financial aid package. If they won't, take out a loan in the amount you need.</p>

<p>
[quote]

it IS a decision
it IS a TOUGH decision
when its no longer a decision, i will consider my rights as an american violated

[/quote]

You had your chance to pick a less expensive college before you applied ED to Princeton. </p>

<p>Period.</p>

<p>Don't start with this "I'm a victim, my rights are violated" bulls**t. You knew your parents were going to have to pay a hefty amount beforehand. You knew you'd get large sums of money from a public university beforehand. You knew that, if accepted, you were going to have to "leave [your] family, [your] dog, [and your] girlfriend to go 1000 miles away" beforehand.</p>

<p>You had your choice. You made it. You applied and were accepted to Princeton University, one of the MOST EXPENSIVE PRIVATE COLLEGES IN THE COUNTRY. Did you think it was going to be cheap? </p>

<p>You aren't being victimized here. You made a choice when you entered into the ED contract, and it looks as though you'll make a choice on whether or not you'll live up to your word and honor that contract. I could care less about your decision, as it is your decision. Do what you think set you off on the best path for your life.</p>

<p>Sorry for being harsh, but it had to be said.</p>

<p>Try to put a imaginary "will" between "think" and "set" in my second to last sentence. </p>

<br>


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<p>I agree all the way with Schwaby. No offence Valdez, but you're coming across as an ill-prepared and melodramatic jerk:</p>

<p>
[quote]
its a tough decision (well, for me--an overzealous bastard) to make. pay or get paid? the best or good? do i leave my family, my dog, my girlfriend to go 1000 miles away??? not easy questions.

[/quote]
duh! But those are questions any normal intelligent student should have asked themselves before applying to ANY college, let alone one of the most expensive in the nation. If you were so worried you were going to drain your parent's
[quote]
savings (which i understand they have worked several decades to accumulate and provide me with an amazing life)

[/quote]
then why the heck would you enter into a legally binding contract to attend a school, REGARDLESS of the financial aid they are kind enough to offer you?</p>

<p>
[quote]
but my mommy and daddy dont make six figures. as apalling as it sounds, princeton is expensive to us. so please, learn to DEAL W/ IT.

[/quote]
You need to take your own advice, Valdez, and deal with it yourself. Millions of students take out loans to cover the cost of their education, and perhaps you should consider it too. It doesn't take a neurosurgeon to figure out that Princeton is expensive. At least you were bright enough to try the fin. aid estimator... But since it was off by $4000, and if that makes all the difference to you, you should be contacting the school and negotiating to increase the package instead of asking for "Your opinions" on a college forum. Afterall:
[quote]
Contract or no contract, if we simply cant afford it, im simply not going.

[/quote]
Sounds to me like you've already made up your mind.</p>

<p>Unlike Zant and Schwaby, I'm not going to apologize for "sounding harsh". When you ask for an opinion, you jolly-well get one.</p>

<p>
[quote]

for you kids who go to pricy private schools and have mommy and daddy with seven figure jobs: conrats! i wish you the best.

[/quote]

I love the subliminal way with which you inserted "rats to you rich kids" in your text =)</p>

<p>EDIT: And to keep relevant:
I agree with gianievve: you had your chance to consider if it's worth it... Your only options seem to be a) bargain with the finaid office b) suck the fact that you'll start your life (alone that is) indebted c) start gathering money from now, work, relatives, etc.</p>

<p>By the way: 15*4years is $60k... I can't see how you can't pay this in another four years with a paper saying Princeton...</p>

<p>
[quote]
By the way: 15*4years is $60k... I can't see how you can't pay this in another four years with a paper saying Princeton...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Exactly. Having "Princeton" on your resume (as opposed to Texas A&M) should make a large difference in grad school acceptances/job offers/etc. It's not that A&M is bad, just that Princeton is....well, Princeton. Even if you don't think spending 4 years at Princeton is worth the extra $K, the degree should pay for itself later if you do well there.</p>

<p>Not for nothing, but my daughter applied ED and didn't get in. She was deferred. She would give her eye teeth to attend. You took up a spot that could have gone to her.</p>

<p>Please, do us a favor. Don't go. Makes room for one more that really wants to go no matter what the cost.</p>

<p>Geez, eye teeth sound painful >.<</p>

<p>Oh, and yea MommyPain, that's what I would have said a long time ago...I would've paid to go, even it required a hefty loan, but I'm sure if I had said that, he would've just been like "omg zante you're so bitter because they didn't want you" :p</p>

<p>Yeah...haha. I decided before ED (actually, I decided when I visited Princeton) that I'd do whatever it took to go. There are opportunities that require sacrifices and Princeton is definitely worth the sacrifice....</p>

<p>Good luck to your daughter, MommyPain, from a fellow deferree. :)</p>

<p>It's so sad though to think of all the people out there who are ungrateful when there are so many more people who would do anything to get in (and who all deserve it). <em>sigh</em> but we always knew the system was messed up...</p>