<p>I just don’t understand why parents come down so hard on kids who are frustrated because their parent’s assets/income put them in a range that need based financial aid alone, if they get any, will not cover what their family is willing to or capable of paying. The attitude of telling a kid in this situation that they have bad parents who 1) obviously don’t care about them or their future 2) are spendthrift, partying, alcoholics who are making lifestyle choices that preclude the student from every having any future 3) are spoiled whiny brats 4) have stats that would indicate that the student is “just average” and therefore doesn’t deserve any help from anywhere or my personal favorite 5) Be man/woman enough to stand up to your parents and DEMAND that they use THEIR money to support whatever college lifestyle YOU choose because after all, your college is far more important than their retirement, grandparents medical well being, siblings present and future opportunities, etc. How does any of this help the student? The kid didn’t make any of these choices and telling them they have bad, non-loving parents because their parents made choices we wouldn’t isn’t helping the student resolve any of the issues at home. Why do some parents feel the need to bash other parents TO THE KID, thus adding to their anxiety and feelings of disappointment. If the parent was asking, I could understand this attitude but too many times it’s the kid asking and they are already frustrated with their parents. </p>
<p>Knowing someone from the region covered by the University of Texas Pan American, this income level is probably fairly new to the family. UTPA did not offer PhDs until fairly recently so in all probability, the parents have only recently attained the advanced degrees. So, as far as having a college fund set up, the parents have probably been going to school themselves and money has been going to those expenses. Also, they probably have acquired some loans for their own education they are currently paying off. And, culturally, in this region, it is not only acceptable but expected that adult children help with the expenses of parents and grandparents. Maybe some income is going here. To me all these things say your parents are working hard to correct any past “financial mistakes” they made and they should be commended for caring enough about their future to advance their education and enough about you to try to play catch up on their own retirement and take care of family members so you don’t have to do these things when you graduate. </p>
<p>cptofthehouse - well said. None of us know someone else’s expenses. Just because you make $50,000 or $250,000 in a year, we can’t know what expenses and financial commitments have piled up when you weren’t making that kind of money. I know someone with $250,000 a year income should be able to pay for far more than I can but that doesn’t mean that $50,000 a year for one child is doable or desirable for even that person. </p>
<p>A $2000 house payment is not neccesarily a $720,000 house. My house payment of $1280 includes on $579 of actual house payment. The rest is taxes, mandatory insurance, etc. So, depending on the interest rate, a $2000 house payment could be only $900 in actual mortgage payment and the house could be only $125,000-$175,000. In some areas, this isn’t much house. In other areas, this is close to a mansion. </p>
<p>As far as “expecting you would be val or sal”, this area is full of extremes. Not much middle class. A High School could be 75% below the poverty level but 10-15% may be over $200,00 a year. Most of these have parents who are professionals who are Drs, Lawyers, Own construction companies, etc. and so there are probably many students in the OPs school who have as many or more resources than he does. This whole geographic area is economically depressed so there isn’t as much economic segregation by schools (ala inner city vs suburbs). Most schools are low income with a “wealthier” element in each. Frequently, these populations don’t mix socially within the schools.</p>
<p>And, being from “the Valley” does give students a geogrphic boost at “some” top ranked schools. This area is is considered “special” (think not really Texas but “the border area”) by some recruiters and it is tough to get kids to go too far from home. So, sometimes URMs from this area get a little bit of a geographic boost too, just depends on the school. Or so says my past school board and University friends from this area.</p>