Parents have $0 saved for college, won't qualify for financial aid

[Anonymous]

You rolled your eyes, but there is nothing wrong with a free ride to Alabama. Lots of out of state kids and a very nice place to spend four years.

I have a million complaints about the state of Alabama and I lived there for a while, so I’m very familiar with its issues. However, we are very likely about to experience a major recession and you do not want to start your young adult life with a ton of debt over an undergrad degree. ESPECIALLY since you are pre-med. And on that note, Alabama does a great job at preparing kids for med school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So much of this depends on whether your parents are willing to help pay or not. If so, you all could easily cash flow W&M, no need for community college. If not, you are almost definitely looking at community college or a much lower ranked school that will offer a lot of money for high stats (there are plenty, and can even be good experiences).

They tell me it's because they can't afford it, but I'm pretty sure it's because they're not willing + resentful that their parents made them pay their own way to college, but they both got really good in-state deals

So they'll pay for in-state college? What have they said about what they will contribute? Is it literally 0$? Have they filled out the FAFSA forms with you? It's not uncommon to have parents who spend significantly and don't prioritize saving for kid's college unfortunately.

Do you have a job yet OP? I had parents who couldn't afford much for college, and I started working when I was 14 years old, the max time allowed during summers, and part-time during the school year. If you have this Ivy dream, you can take out loans, if your parents are willing to take out loans as well, but it will cost you...

[Anonymous]

OP, if your parents will pay in state, then I’d go to UVA or W&M. If they pay for nothing, go wherever you can get a full ride. Med school loans are huge. Future you will be happy that current you went to undergrad debt-free.

If your parents saved zero, then I’m sorry that happened to you. Costs today really aren’t the same as when your parents went through. You’ll do better by your kids.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think op is arrogant at all. I think it’s sad that a kid prioritized their education far more than the parents did. The parents with this income refusing to help pay for college should be neglectful. Good luck OP. Open up to some southern colleges and then try to go to med school a place you prefer more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely apply early to W&M, that should be the goal. Your parents went in state, probably expect you to too.

Otherwise, Case and Oberlin are generous with merit aid. Tulane has some full scholarships.

Gotta step in here on Oberlin. We are about OP’s parents financial profile and sent a pretty high stats kid there. He got generous merit aid. Which brought our cost down to 50k , or a bit more than WM at the time. It made Oberlin possible for us, because a 529 and willingness to pay. OP isnt gong to get the price tag below 50k at Oberlin though. They spread merit money around, rather than doing fewer full rides. Also, applied to Case and similar. A generous number for merit aid. But offset it against what was $75k all in at the time and it wasn’t below WM (which was my kids in state choice, where he was accepted).

Wooster OTOH will actually get the cost below in state VA based on merit for high stats. That’s what OP wants to look for.

If Op wants WM and has the financial limits, he wants to live at home, save money, keep working and attend community college guaranteed transfer to WM. It sucks not to get the full four year experience. But WM is expensive for a state school. Do something like get an EMT certification, and earn above minimum wage.

OP— IDK if your parents don’t have the money or do have it and for some reason won’t help. But, you need to sit down and have a frank discussion about the cost of college and ask what they can do. For example, if they are really stuck on $0 actually contributed, can you pay for community college, and would they give you a low (or no) interest loan tuition for the last 2 years if you save up and pay room and board? When they look at the cost, is it really $0, or can they help with tuition if you do room and board (which you can get down by doing something like being an RA)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are your parents helping at all? They may have millions in retirement and can just pay as they go from their income.
Did you go to private high school? What did your parents do with their money?
I would go to community college. My kid is going to CC even though I have money for him.

They claim we can't afford it and that we're struggling (which I doubt)

Did private for a few years in elementary school, bought a piano, got a screened in porch

I know CC is an option, and if that's what I need I'll do it, but I'll just feel like a failure. I'm a very high achiever who's been deadset on going to a top 20 since middle school, especially because ivy/top 20 acceptances are very rare in my area. Most people are expecting me to go to a highly ranked college, and CC feels like I'm letting them and myself down.

In your situation, $200k in debt for undergrad is letting yourself down. That debt will dictate your life choices for years. I know you don’t want to hear CC. But the VA guanteed admission process 8s great. And at the end, you get the same diploma as kids who started at WM freshman year. With less then half the debt, because you can easily take you required 12 community college credits, keep working and keep saving. Your situation sucks, but you need to think long term. 5-10 years from now, you have the WM or UVA degree and no one care what you did the year after HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if your parents will pay in state, then I’d go to UVA or W&M. If they pay for nothing, go wherever you can get a full ride. Med school loans are huge. Future you will be happy that current you went to undergrad debt-free.

If your parents saved zero, then I’m sorry that happened to you. Costs today really aren’t the same as when your parents went through. You’ll do better by your kids.

They won't even pay in-state. Any time I ask to confirm that there is literally nothing saved for me or my siblings I'm always told that they didn't save anything so I'll have to rely on scholarships, pay my own way, or take out loans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why the eyeroll for "southern schools?"

I was just going to post this same question. Op, please explain.

I want to work in the Northeast after grad + South is way too red

I see. Your choices are of course your own, but I would encourage you to be more open minded.

Precisely OP is arrogant

Op is what, 17? We’ve all been there. Cut the kid a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if your parents will pay in state, then I’d go to UVA or W&M. If they pay for nothing, go wherever you can get a full ride. Med school loans are huge. Future you will be happy that current you went to undergrad debt-free.

If your parents saved zero, then I’m sorry that happened to you. Costs today really aren’t the same as when your parents went through. You’ll do better by your kids.

They won't even pay in-state. Any time I ask to confirm that there is literally nothing saved for me or my siblings I'm always told that they didn't save anything so I'll have to rely on scholarships, pay my own way, or take out loans.

Two years community college, 2 years at the local state college and live at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever you do begin with the end in mind. Can you get any job shadowing or intern experiences? Any work connections from a friend of a friend? A school helps give you a network for jobs prestige won't pay your bills unless it gets you a better job.

I plan to major in pre-med, pysch, or neuro so I'm shadowing a few doctors this summer

0 work connections that are in any way related to what I want to do

Pitt give great merit and has an incredible BA/MD program. I would
ask your school counselor about this program.

Pitt merit has dried up for OOS. Top stats are getting 5-10k vs 60k cost of admission? Not a great idea here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think op is arrogant at all. I think it’s sad that a kid prioritized their education far more than the parents did. The parents with this income refusing to help pay for college should be neglectful. Good luck OP. Open up to some southern colleges and then try to go to med school a place you prefer more.

Oh they definitely prioritize education: they get mad if I get an A- on a test. Which clearly won't even matter if I'll wind up at CC anyways.

Farthest south that I'd be happy with going is Chapel Hill, which I think in a normal situation would be a great target. But there's no way given the current state of the country I'd be willing to go to Alabama or Florida or Texas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Two years community college, 2 years at the local state college and live at home.

and after this get away from them and tell them F off when it comes to grandkids, retirement help, and elderly care

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if your parents will pay in state, then I’d go to UVA or W&M. If they pay for nothing, go wherever you can get a full ride. Med school loans are huge. Future you will be happy that current you went to undergrad debt-free.

If your parents saved zero, then I’m sorry that happened to you. Costs today really aren’t the same as when your parents went through. You’ll do better by your kids.

They won't even pay in-state. Any time I ask to confirm that there is literally nothing saved for me or my siblings I'm always told that they didn't save anything so I'll have to rely on scholarships, pay my own way, or take out loans.

Two years community college, 2 years at the local state college and live at home.

GMU is actually very strong in STEM. It’s not a bad option. Agree that if med school is the goal, minimize undergrad debt. Either by taking a red state deal or doing a VA CC guaranteed transfer and working with attending CC.

[Anonymous]

are you a high stats kid?

if so look for guaranteed merit at state schools.

my own daughter took advantage of one of these schools' full rides.

[Anonymous]

OP, if your parents aren't supporting you, you could try becoming permanently independent at 18.

Take a gap year, fund your own life with a low wage job and then apply to top schools as a self-funded adult. If you are not a dependent and don't have assets, you may get aid.

Set up your life in a state where you want to go to school.