<p>Tell them Tim Tebow is not a god and they will kick you out of the house and you won’t have a choice but go west…</p>
<p>Tim Tebow is god, though.</p>
<p>LMU – Happy to look at the letter, although you might be better served getting different points of view and input from the very helpful parents on this board if you post it separately (making sure there are no details that identify you), specifically asking for parental input on a letter to convince your folks to let you attend USC. </p>
<p>And I don’t think you’ve been offensive. You’ve been a kid who is extremely angry and frustrated that, for reasons that aren’t clear to him, his parents, whom he perceives as not having shown much interest in his education up to this point, won’t let him go to SC – and who is venting a bit.</p>
<p>I pulled this off the USC website – if you defer admission, your readmission is not guaranteed. This is disappointing, and if the worst case scenario does unfold here, I wonder if you could talk with admissions and see if there are ever exceptions made in unusual situations. I wouldn’t encourage you to hold out too much hope about this alternative, though.</p>
<p>"Although USC does not defer offers of admission, students may “update” their applications to be considered for a future term that begins within one year (two semesters) of the original application. Updated applications do not require a new fee or letters of recommendation; however, any additional academic work completed must be reported, and transcripts of this work are required.</p>
<p>“Applicants who were denied admission may not update; they must reapply. Individuals who are granted admission and then update are not guaranteed admission to a future term.”</p>
<p>okay how come everyone suppors u dream? i’ve been looking for posts by u and i think its something about ur appeal? but im not sure. whats the story?</p>
<p>LMU10 - Have you asked your parents what their concerns are? ( I am a parent of a student deciding where to go and USC is his current top choice. He hopes to “cinch the deal” after the explore usc visit next week.). We live in CA though and all of our son’s choices are in-state. Aside from finances, perhaps your parents aren’t convinced you are mature enough to move across country. You need to ask them and logistically answer their concerns. I personally believe the decision is the student’s - it is your journey. If you have shown the maturity and dedication to get yourselves accepted to these schools you absolutely have earned the opportunity to go. But I know a lot of parent’s decide where their kids will go. Good luck to you - be logical and hopefully you can convince them of your readiness and dedication to attend USC. If not, commit yourself to success wherever you land. This is but one decision of many you will be making for many years to come.</p>
<p>
Please read the first page of the FAQ for USC Financial Aid 2010 thread for information on loans, w/s and summer earning contributions typically included in freshman packages. The self-help portion of a USC package often exceeds the amounts you list above.</p>
<p>To those waiting for your aid packages: You cannot make assumptions about how much aid you will receive from other posters stating a FAFSA EFC and aid amount. There are loooooooooooooong forms containing pages of information that we do not (and should not) have access to that go into calculating aid. Two people with the exact same FAFSA EFC may receive very different aid packages.</p>
<p>mebber - Their answer to why I can’t go is simply because it’s in California. “Too far away”. They’re like, do you know how hard it would be for us to visit?</p>
<p>Well, I’m sorry! But this is a dream and it’s my dream. If I can work my way funds to fly at least one or two of them out here, then I will. I mean, I don’t want to cut them out of my life if that’s what I think they’re doing.</p>
<p>I hate to say this, but I think they believe I’m going to be their most successful child and just don’t want to let go yet. I’m not trying to brag or anything, just the vibe I get.</p>
<p>Alamemommy - I’m confused. Are you saying that USC is going to package me with more than 6300$ in loans? I don’t think so. I know someone with a higher EFC who got 55k in aid with 2500 in loans. I understand EFC doesn’t mean anything, but when you’re in 200k home debt, no assets besides cars if those count, I don’t understand where USC would be getting this idea that my parents have some money. Really everything I filled out on the PROFILE just made it seem like I needed more aid. But who knows. I think I have a good shot at a wonderful financial aid package. Especially since I have a sibling in college, and an income at 40k that will be even lower next year. How could they expect us to pay more than 2-4k? I’m hoping they won’t, lol. I don’t mind Work Study programs either, if that’s what you were referring to by self-help. I just don’t want more than 5.5k tops loans in my package. I’m praying.</p>
<p>I also think you have a good shot at a wonderful financial aid package, and $5,500 is the typical Stafford subs+unsubs in a freshman package. BUT, there is also likely to be ~$2,000 in work/study and a $1,500 summer earnings expectation. I always try to look at the package as “What do WE have to pay?” (Whether that means cash, loans or work.) So with the assumption (which may be WAY off) that your expected contribution at USC would be close to your FAFSA EFC (remember, they ask about assets the FAFSA ignores - so they may expect more, and I don’t think you mentioned a FAFSA EFC, so I will assume about $5,500), a random package MIGHT look like:</p>
<p>Cost of attendance: $55,000</p>
<p>Expected contribution $7,500 (to be paid in cash or PLUS loans)
Stafford Subs $3,500
Stafford unsubs $2,000
Federal work/study $2,000
Summer earnings expectation $1,500
USC grant $38,500</p>
<p>The way I look at that package is that the student and their family has to pay $16,500. </p>
<p>But an excited student might look at that… and run back here and post "We only have to pay $7,500 !!!</p>
<p>All I am saying is you and your parents have to wait to see the package, and possibly talk to USC about the details, before you assume what it will be. It sounds like you have done your homework and have a good idea of what to expect - Good luck!!!</p>
<p>Sorry, I didn’t mention an EFC.</p>
<p>Fafsa EFC : 1271
Household Members: 5
In College: 2</p>
<p>I think you will probably get a very niice package - just remember the $5,500 in loans + $2,000 in w/s + summer earnings + FAFSA EFC + a bit more 'cause of the Profile… </p>
<p>I don’t want anyone to be disappointed! Hopefully you will see the package and go WOO-HOO!</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>The work study doesn’t bother me, but the expected summer contributions do. But isn’t student income taken into account when determining an expected family contribution? So, I don’t see why it should be here, and if you do work for the summer earnings, it’ll just be taken into account for the next year’s FAFSA.</p>
<p>Okay now back on the Topic. I typed up a list of 10 solid reasons so far. One of them is financial aid so it’s obviously not determined yet, but here’s a funny one:</p>
<ol>
<li>USC Students are guaranteed Football tickets for all 4 years at the school. This is amazing! At UF you must enter a lottery all four years, with the possibility of never getting season tickets!</li>
</ol>
<p>I love sports, and so does my dad. Hopefully he’ll like that one :D</p>
<p>LMU10,</p>
<p>Speaking from a parent’s standpoint, I suggest you talk to your parents and try to understand what their concerns are regarding you coming to USC. As many of the prior posters stated, USC is a great school with many opportunities (the Trojans’ family is just amazing), but, you need to seek to understand your parents’ concerns, try to address them and get a win-win situation for both you and your parents. </p>
<p>This fall, my very first child will be going to college. As parents, we are excited but extremely scared as well. I hope he does not see my post as we love him and will miss him dearly. But he is 17 years old, grows to be a young (and handsome :-)) man and he wants to make decisions for himself. Parents always care and sometimes do worry about something that kids may never understand until they become parents themselves.</p>
<p>I do wish you good luck and this CC is full of many caring parents and students who are always willing to land their help if you needed. </p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>I don’t know if this might help but I’m guessing your parents don’t see that you are growing up and that you need to learn to be on your own to mature and stuff. Tell them that at some point you will have to move away (location-wise) from Florida, that the day will come when you will be independent and they’ll see that you are not their little boy anymore, and if it’s now or later it will still shock them or worry them, either if it’s now or 2 yrs later, because parents will always be worried of letting go. Then go on and tell them how now is the perfect chance for them to let you grow, since a large part of what college is is growing up as a person taking care of yourself, and you shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity of going to the school of your dreams, the one you’ve worked your ass off to go because they’re not ready for letting you go.</p>
<p>Of course do this calmly, otherwise it would sound defying and no parent likes that. Just make sure they know that separation is bound to happen sometime no matter what, and it will always feel the same to them.</p>
<p>Also maybe you get more aid at SC than at UF and the difference might cover the cost of plane tickets for them to visit you.</p>
<p>Georgia Girl:</p>
<p>I tried to send you a PM in response to your PM but your mail box is full.</p>
<p>I will try again later today.</p>
<p>Thank you parents, and other people who have helped.</p>
<p>I understand that I need to be calm when I talk to them. It seems like the consensus is I need to find out the deepest root of why I can’t go so far away. I hate the ignorant answer “You’re 17, you can’t go that far away.”</p>
<p>They say things like that, but won’t ever give a reason. It’s not fair. “Because we said so” isn’t good enough here. If they had done more and were/could pay for education it’s different. So I’m going to approach them nicely asking for a reason.</p>
<p>Then, I want to fire. You guys have given great advice, but I’m still looking for why a private vs. public education is better. More specifically, why USC > UF? The answer seems clear to me but apparently not my parents. </p>
<p>(:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You won’t find that; I’ve gone to both a private and public college and a private and public high school. School is school.</p>
<p>Just listen to your parents and go to UF…</p>
<p>Why listen to someone who hasn’t guided to me my whole life?</p>
<p>Don’t respond if you’re going to simply put one sentence and not have any reason to back up why I should listen to my parents OR go to UF.</p>
<p>I haven’t listed specific details about my family, or the problems related. To be completely honest, I don’t really have respect for either of my parents. My college essays discussed in part about my home life and how it is in relation to why I wanted to graduate a year early and move on. They have done good for me, but they haven’t shown the care that I expect.</p>
<p>I’ve built strong bonds with some teachers. I still talk to them often, just to see how things are going and they want to make sure I’m okay. I used to talk to them freshman and sophomore years when I had more problems family-related, but not so much anymore. The truth is I work and go to school a lot, which takes up a lot of my time. I don’t see my family much anymore and it’s working out better. I’m a very independent person, and it makes me so mad to know that I’ve guided myself this whole way, built up my own morals, learned everything through experience, and they are trying to choose what college I go to. What makes them so qualified?? They brought me in to this world, but that’s not enough.</p>
<p>Like, for example. I’m gay, and my parent’s aren’t happy about it. It’s led to us separating. To put it in clearer terms, I’ve been out for over 2 years and my parents have never talked to me about being gay, partners/boyfriends, STD’s, using a condom, etc. I’m well aware of the risks of STD’s, especially among gay men.</p>
<p>I’ve been tested, and everything came up negative. Do my parents even know that I was? No. I took the initiative to get it done for free at the local state college I go to. I basically take care of myself as it is. My parent’s weren’t supportive of my sexuality ever. They did cut down their usage of anti-gay slang that really isn’t appropriate for this forum, but that’s about it. Truthfully, I had a rough freshman year. In the beginning, I was open about it and it spread fast. I cried once, thank god my sister (who was a senior) was there to help me out. She got me through the tough times. Towards the end everyone came around and I was fun. It just sucks, like they never even made the effort to ask about how things were going at school.</p>
<p>My teacher and counselor recs were consistent with the fact that I was an independent person, and if there was anyone who could go to college a year early that I was academically ready and mature enough to do so that it would be me. I don’t ask for much ever, especially money. This is something I really want to do and I wish my parents would let me follow my dream. I’ve worked so hard to keep my grades up, taking online classes to accelerate graduation, etc.</p>
<p>There are some troubling things I’ve witnessed in my childhood, but my parents have come around for the better. They are getting to be better parents, despite the old history. Things could always be worse, they could have not given me their tax information, stuff like that. I am trying to meet them on a middle ground by presenting an affordable situation granting the financial aid comes through.</p>
<p>Parents should only have a say if they have been parents. Most of the parents on here who are offering insight are (I would think) good parents. Probably not even good, great parents. You probably care about me and feel that my parents may have a valid point but you have also not met me. I am mature, and the thing is the transition to college won’t be socially awkward. I have many friends and am not worried about adjusting. I understand it’s only a small state college, but that’s where I go now and I have plenty of friends. It’s even in a different county than my high school, so I didn’t know anyone. I’m okay with that though, I can be put in an environment where I know nobody and do just fine. I’m very relaxed, but not shy. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. It seems that the only people who truly support me are my teachers and counselors, because they know me better than my family probably does.</p>
<p>I’m going way in depth. Haha. Sorry, I’m just really upset. I’m starting to think if they so no, I’ll just “update” my application for a new term. I’ll apply to some other schools, and great schools who meet full financial need w/ no loans! At worst, their argument was that I am 17 and can’t go all the way across the country. Well, I will be 18 and a legal adult Fall 2011.</p>