<p>My parents volunteered to pay for 100% of my undergraduate fees, but I do not want them to pay for all of it, since it is so much!
My bracket is rather high, but I want to get money off!
What do I do?</p>
<p>Eligible for any of these?
<a href=“http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/”>http://automaticfulltuition.yolasite.com/</a>
<a href=“Competitive Full Tuition / Full Ride Scholarships - #46 by ucbalumnus - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1461983-competitive-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships-p4.html</a></p>
<p>Interested in any of these?
<a href=“VERY LOW COST OOS COA universities......less than $25k COA for everything! - Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1651944-very-low-cost-oos-coa-universities-less-than-25k-coa-for-everything-p1.html</a></p>
<p>Well, that is not particularly unusual or interesting. first you should discover the Financial Aid forum, where you should have posted. Pinned to the top are lists of Automatic merit schools, you can browse the last post to see which you might qualify for. Depending on your stats, there are competitive merit options too.</p>
<p><a href=“Financial Aid and Scholarships - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/</a> </p>
<p>Couple of practical things:
- pick lower cost colleges. There is a list of very low cost pinned to the top of the fin’l aid forum. But still there are more publics, maybe even privates, that are good value. google for lists of ‘Best Value’ colleges. Your instate options usually save money.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Work summers to contribute to costs. Take a p/t job during the year 10 to 15 hours for your spending money. Some colleges have great opportunities and it helps you get experience and insights. Studies also show that kids with such jobs manage their time better.</p></li>
<li><p>Take your Federal Direct Loans you are entitled too. This way 27k of college costs are pickup up by you, to be repaid by you after graduation. Might be a smart idea to pay the interest as you go, so that it isn’t capitalized, though.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks I will check them out </p>
<p>Well I am gunning to get into CMU next year, out of state, expensive, but the program fits my needs the best! It i is awesome!</p>
<p>cmu is not a state school</p>
<p>One way is to be sure that you apply to some match and safe schools where you are likely to receive a generous merit scholarship. If you have your heart set on CMU, though, I think your parents will want you to go there if you get in and they can afford it. If your parents have the resources to pay for you to attend any college you get into, then be grateful. Pay them back by being happy. On the other hand, if you don’t get into a dream college, and you have a choice between a second choice that costs over $60k per year and a third choice that costs less than $30k, you can tell your parents to save the money for your grad school . . . or unpaid summer internships . . . or study abroad . . . or a car . . .</p>
<p>Co-ops are better than summer internships b/c those earnings are not counted against you in FAFSA whereas summer internship money does. You may graduate a bit later but you’ll have had a few months in an actual job, earning hopefully decent money.</p>
<p>If your parents are willing and able to pay, then you have an amazing opportunity to go to the best college you can get into for your interests, preferences etc. I’d go to the best fit school and pay your parents back by working very hard, getting the most out of your college experience, working summers to earn spending money etc. If they can afford it, it is a parent’s great pleasure to send a smart, hardworking, considerate child to the college of his or her dreams. Do let your parents know how much you appreciate the chance you are being given and do make the most of your opportunity…</p>