OP here. I appreciate that recommendation. But the issue is a bit more complex as obtaining a US degree will be life changing for her rather than getting a degree from a third world country. So it makes it a bit more high stakes. My father paid for me to come to college and I have benefitted from it and she wants the same experience for our younger sister. |
Of course she does. That's understandable. She loves all of her children. I don't think her asking is insane. But I don't think you're obligated to go destitute to get your sister an education. Can't you have an honest conversation with your mother and tell her you just can't do it? |
Did you post that your father paid for his nephews to go to college and it was hard on your family financially? If yes, why arent those nephews contributing in reciprocation? |
Looks like calling names comes easy to you though. Now let's focus on the topic. I myself am autistic, which is why it took me AGES to figure out how "normal" people operate and what kind of games are being played. Which is why I'm now no contact. Good that you don't have to lie to your mother. I bet your mother also hasn't asked you for a $20K in a year, nor arrange a relative's education in another country, nor decide to spend their own money on another relative and then ask for help from you. |
Then you have to think of options. Does she now qualify as a resident? She could do community college and then transfer. OR she could get a degree from a home country and then apply for graduate school in the US or Europe. There are many immigrants who came to graduate school in the US, myself included, and there are scholarships etc. available. If she already has some education from here, it'd be a big benefit. In the end, while your father paid for you, he was an adult and you were his child. You have to think of your own future, you probably want to get married and have children of your own. You cannot saddle yourself with your sister's debts at your age. |
OP here. I think because my mother has never had or managed money she does not understand financial constraints. My father went into debt to pay for my college and my mother says money doesn't matter as long as the end goal is worth while. She also expects my rich sister and I to love and provide for my little sister as if she is our daughter. I just feel like it is a lot of pressure, especially as I already feel unsettled and vulnerable as a single woman all alone in the US. |
Does your mother have a job? She needs to get one and take care of herself if she's going to make these kind of demands on you. That's where it starts. |
| Oh I'm sorry, I see that she's about to graduate from community college. So where exactly does she plan to enroll that is so expensive? Does she not qualify as a resident? |
I totally get that. I think you're putting too much pressure on yourself trying not to hurt your mom's feelings. Just tell her that this is not something you can do. She can deal with it. |
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You’re probably right not to co-sign the student loan.
But your math is all over the place. After your sister’s scholarship, you first wrote that the rest of the tuition is $31K a year. Is the $10K your mother wants from you over two years or each year? If it’s over two years, that’s not much more than you’ve been doing in the past, $5000 vs. $3750, only $1250 more per year. If it’s each year, then $31K split among the four of you is $7750, which is $4000 more a year than you’ve been giving. If you’re willing to get a part-time job, you should be able to make that much working retail one day a week. Tell your mother and sister what you amount can afford to contribute and then say no to any other requests. Your sister should get a job and may have to look into deferring her admittance (and hopefully also the scholarship) for a year while she works to save up for her tuition. |
OP here. She is an international student so while she can transfers to a 4 year school, she would only qualify for out-of-state fees. She has a 4.0 at NOVA and was part of SGA and was very involved. Despite all this, she got rejected from some of the more prestigious schools and has an acceptance at GMU. We were hoping a more prestigious school would give her aid or a scholarship but alas! |
OP here. My sister has a 15k scholarship and admission to VCU. Co-pilot says after the scholarship room and board for 1 year will cost approx $40K – $50K. She also got into GMU with a 10k scholarship. Co-pilot says with room and board for 1 year the cost is approx $49K – $55K If she goes to GMU there is a possibility she may get to live with my rich sister at her house. So then the cost for tuition alone would be $29K – $30K. However my rich sister says she is done having my sister living with her and she and her husband want privacy and to focus on their own little family. I live in a small apartment by myself and as such cannot have her. |
Out-of-state rates are VERY expensive. If your rich sister is no longer willing to have her live with her family, who is wiling to pay for her room and board? It doesn't seem like you guys have the money, whether your mom insists or not. |
| And as far as I know, international students cannot take student loans. |
| OK wrong here, no federal loans, but there are some private loans with a co-signer requirement. |