<p>I'm the student, and I have my parents who of course pressure me in going to __________ University because of ___________.</p>
<p>But is it up to me to physically decide officially where I will go for college? I know that all college applications only require that the student signs it and they don't ask for the parents signature, so I hope they aren't forced to decide where I want to go for college. (I'm a junior, so I have the summer.)</p>
<p>It's technically up to you to be willing to attend the college that you tell you'll be attending, but it's certainly up to your parents to decide if they're willing to help you pay for it or not. If they're not covering any of the expense, then their input will be limited to whatever influence they have on you. If you need their financial support however, then their opinions are pretty crucial. Incidentally, if they decided not to provide you the financial assistance that your EFC suggests they might, it won't increase your eligibility for financial aid.</p>
<p>Ok well they are pressuring me to stay in state because it's "cheaper." One of the colleges I was looking as was Bowling Green (OH) and the tuition is about $7700, but I really want to go to Grand Valley (MI) and the tuition is about $13000 which I think doesn't seem like much, but I am going to have to depend on scholarships. I don't care about money, and I'm not the type of person who gets happy or fascinated by lots of money (for me happiness >>> money.)</p>
<p>You didn't answer the question about who is paying your tuition.</p>
<p>Would you be paying the $5,300 / year difference or would they? Do you have > $21,000 yourself to cover the difference or do you have scholarships already in hand that will cover it? Bear in mind that you can't take out loans without having them co-sign.</p>
<p>It is your choice to decide where to go to college, but it's your parents' choice to decide what they will pay for which can, of course, limit your choices. If they will pay for X amount, you can either go to a college that costs X amount or find a way to pay for it yourself (qualifying for scholarships and/or loans that your parents will sign for, getting a job that can make up the difference, etc.). </p>
<p>Sit down with them and ask what they're willing to pay. Ask them if they'd be willing to give you what they would pay for the cheaper school to apply to the cost of a more expensive one if you find a way of paying for the rest.</p>
<p>Yes, you will soon be legally an adult. That means you make your own decisions. AND pay your own way. </p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't care about money, and I'm not the type of person who gets happy or fascinated by lots of money (for me happiness >>> money.)
[/quote]
That's very nice, until you don't have any. Seriously, $13,000 tuition + $9,000 room and board + $1,000 books = $23,000. Per year for four years, with interest giving a total of over $100,000 in debt when you're 22. Go to FinAid</a> | Calculators | Loan Calculator and run the numbers - there are lots of calculators on this site. When I ran the numbers, it gave a monthly payment of twice my monthly house payment (I live cheap), and a suggested salary for repaying it of almost twice what I earn (and I make pretty good money). You may not care about money, but you will care when you can't take a lower-paid job that makes you happy because you have to take the higher-paid job to pay off your debts. You don't care about money, but do you spend it on music, movies, and going out with your friends? Do you have a car? A computer? A cell phone with a data plan? New clothes occasionally?</p>
<p>Apply for scholarships and if you get some truly awesome ones, then maybe you can go to the $$$ school.</p>
<p>Listen to your parents. They love you and want what's best for you.</p>
<p>I thought money didn't matter till this past April. Your parents can and will make your college decision. </p>
<p>Anyways, Grand Valley and Bowling Green are similar schools.</p>
<p>If you have some honest discussions with your parents and they are willing to discuss your choices it may not turn out to be an either/or (you or they choose). As others have said, you should ask how much they would be willing to contribute and how much you can come up with from summer earnings, etc. And you may be eligible for loans that do not require your parents' signatures. </p>
<p>For a lot of people choosing a college is affected by where you are admitted, whether and how much you get in scholarships and financial aid -- and how much you/your parents can afford. Have you thought about other in-state options? You may want to bring more than two into the mix, especially if you hope to get scholarships.</p>
<p>^ Good suggestion. There are some great programs in the other OH state schools. What do you want to major in?</p>
<p>Remove those quote. $5,300 per year is a lot of money. Over four years, that's $21,000. Consider that if you tried to earn this, at $12.00/year, without any deductions, it would take about 1,750 hours which is 43.75 weeks of full time work.
Your parents cannot force you to attend a school.
You cannot force them to pay for a school.</p>