<p>Maybe you need to give that first opinion that you have made about U of A another chance. There is going to be partying with some students pretty much wherever you go to school. There is probably a version of “Frat Row” at most schools as well. There are many things to appreciate about going to a big school.</p>
<p>For starters a bigger school will mean a greater diversity of people. Tiny schools with less people will mean a smaller group of people to find friends in. A big school is sort of like a small city. You can find places there to be alone it you are in the mood or surrounded by people that you know.</p>
<p>It is really impossible to understand what a college will be like without being there for a little while. To get a true feel of life someplace will take a bit of time to adjust to the surroundings and to meet people as well. the money is a big issue and even though your parents bought another house it doesn’t mean that they have whole pile to burn.</p>
<p>Maybe it would be a good idea to look around some more, check a little more deeply to be sure that there is not some other school that will give you a similar amount of money. There might be some schools out there that you haven’t thought of yet.</p>
<p>What a great scholarship and wonderful opportunity that you have ahead of you. It sounds like you might be overly worried about things that you really don’t need to be. Sometimes you need to look on the bright side or at least change your perception a little bit.</p>
<p>While you may be worried about the partying there, isn’t that going to be the same case at any school that you go to. There will always be those kids that are at school just to party no matter where you go.</p>
<p>Trying to find a school that is a perfect fit, just from walking through it, is kind of like finding the perfect mate by just looking at someones photo. It takes time to get to know a person or a school. What needs to be taken into consideration is what you have to offer as a person. What attitude are you bringing with you and what drive that you have. A lot of how you will feel about your school will be directly from who you are as a person. </p>
<p>That awesome scholarship is something impressive and is not something to be taken lightly. Just imagine how much more disposable income that your parents will have to spend on you as well as other things.</p>
<p>Maybe OP could call Centre College RIGHT AWAY and decline. That would free up some money for my son who would love to have any part of it since Centre’s at the top of his list ;-)</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure aid doesn’t work like that.</p>
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<p>Well, it turns out I got into Hendrix, whose merit aid package was much better, to the point where my parents would actually consider letting me go there.</p>
<p>But yeah you were. You could really do a lot of good with your genius.</p>
<p>This is rich. You insult my intelligence because I had the nerve to point out that you came on this board simply to ask a bunch of strangers to stroke your ego.</p>
<p>“I guess I wanted to complain about my parents who only want to spend money based on some arbitrary percieved ranking”</p>
<p>OP, look at the forum heading on the top of this page. It says Parents, right? Did your own parents get too tired of listening to you complain about how mean they are and you decided come here and share your fury with a big group of online stand-in parents? </p>
<p>Since you do not claim to have a question and instead just wanted to “complain,” I’ll point out that that is the definition of entitled behavior. Your parents are not mean. They are choosing to spend their own money how they wish. If you don’t want to attend UA or even Barnard if you are admitted, you may want to attend a community colleges or work for a year or two and save money to put yourself through any other school you prefer.</p>
<p>Stop having a tantrum here, please. No more name calling or baiting kind posters who really are trying to help–although by your own admission you do not seem interested in that sort of thing.</p>
<p>OP, I want to thank you for giving me such a feeling of gratefulness this morning. After reading this thread, I got up and gave my senior a really big hug. I realize just how blessed and proud I am.</p>
<p>Just wanted to say thanks to everyone at CC for all the help they have given me over the past five years. After reading all that, I figured I better go with the “if you can’t say something nice…” theory. Wow!</p>
<p>Chaos, why are you being so rude to the parents who are trying to help you? I figured
Someone with 900 posts and 2.5 years of activity would’ve learned the etiquette for this site by now. </p>
<p>Anyway, I too want to thank the great parents of CC. I have learned so much valuable information from the parents forum, even just by lurking. I would not be half as knowledgeable about admissions without this place.</p>
<p>I understand exactly what you’re going through, when I found out my financial aid package at some schools, my mom immediately said, “I really want you to go here unless you get into an Ivy (or ivy-esk school).” I think the biggest issue is feeling like you are being pushed into something that you aren’t sure you want (or at least that has been the issue for me). </p>
<p>I’ve talked to my mom about it and told her that I will go in and look at all of my options come April 1st with an open mind (although I have already kind of ruled one school out based on the religious social environment and administration); HOWEVER, in the end I told her that I would feel much more comfortable not having to transfer for social reasons (my mother transferred so she understood immediately why) and if I get into a school that is a great fit for me, I’d like to see what we can do financially. On the other hand, I also work part time and have been putting money away for my own books and spending money so (while a small part of the costs) I am covering something myself.</p>
<p>In the end, no one here can tell you what to do, but keep an open mind about everything because in the end only you can make the decision about where to go! Until then, do a lot of research on the schools you applied to and see employment after graduation and some things that are important to you (for me that’s extracurricular options, small class sizes, a campus environment that is not strict, and a liberal social environment.)</p>
