I am just wondering if anyone else feels the same. I’m international and I come from a city where studying abroad for university is considered a huge privilege, not to say high school. While my family is lucky enough to be able to cover the expenses for boarding school, it will take up a huge portion of our yearly income.
Now that I received an acceptance, I start to feel guilty about spending so much of my parents’ money just to go to school, when I had the option to stay at my affordable local school. My parents support my decision of going to BS not because we can easily afford the cost, but because they don’t want to hold me back from a top tier education. This hurts.
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If your parents can comfortably afford it and support funding your education (through college) I see no reason for guilt. Instead, feel appreciation and gratitude. If you go to boarding school do your upmost to make them proud.
You can always discuss the options once again with your parents.
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Your parents are right–they prefer to invest their money in you rather than on material goods. Take advantage of such a wonderful opportunity.
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You have a kind character. I am sure your parents did not enter into this decision lightly. I personally feel there is no greater gift than the gift of education. I suspect your parents want this gift for you. Let them know that you appreciate the gift and then make the most of it.
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I have a different view. With no financial aid, and with travel included, Emma Willard would cost your family probably $80,000 a year the first year, and then likely more each year going forward. I do not believe going there at that kind of price is worth it for a financially strapped family, unless there are other factors influencing the decision. I also think the pressure you might feel at attending at such a sacrifice for your family might weigh too heavily on you as time goes by.
Yes, but this for her parents or as a family to decide, weigh and consider, and if they have she should not go with a heavy heart nor would I put that in a child’s mind. I would not want my child burdened by our, her parents decisions. It is for the adults to decide. That being said, she should understand her parents sacrifices and be respectful of how she spends their money esp. while at BS as a way she can help, should she go that route.
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It’s already in her mind, otherwise she would not have posted the original query. Here’s the question: with a decent local option, is Emma Willard worth a “huge portion” of her family’s income? I suppose the answer might depend on how huge is “huge.” If it’s greater than, say, 60%, and, as a result, the family’s financial security is threatened, and there are no non-educational reasons for her to attend high school abroad, I say the answer is no. But I’m just a stranger on the Internet; the family will do what it wants.
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I don’t know the particular circumstances of this family. I would just encourage them to consider their budgeting for college and balance that with the cost/benefit of boarding school. I would prioritize college finances, if it came to that.
OP: it is wonderful that you have this kind of awareness and empathy to ask these questions.
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