newbie-

any update??????

I couldnt agree with you more. I was a little irritated at my parents that I had to pay for school and take out loans but in the end when I paid them off it truly built character.

Kevin :)

Hey Amy :) (and everybody else),

I am feeling tons better since I last posted. I have since thought about everything a lot and have done tons of diary writing in the quest for an answer. I have concluded that the U of A would just be an impossible, impossible dream. The careers that I'm considering require many years of school and very little pay for at least the first five-ten years. Taking out many loans would not be a smart option for me, as I would put myself into a miserable stream of debt.

However, I am content about my decision, for some reason. I just don't want to hurt my parents, b/c even though we fight constantly, I love them dearly. I know that if I were to rebel and go to the U of A against their wishes, I would be the pariah of the entire extended family -- honestly. You'd have to be a part of my family (or at least come from the same background) to totally understand. What I just said is the absolute truth. The truth is, they would not come around to the idea of the U of A. They are extremely stubborn and very fixed in their beliefs. I would never hear the end of it and I just don't want to be the outcast of my family.

I guess in the back of my mind I knew, from the start, that the U of A wouldn't be a realistic option for me. I just knew, but I never admitted it to myself. I have to face the facts, though, which say that with what I want to do -- psychology or teaching psychology -- I cannot afford to separate from my family (I know, how dramatic, but extremely true). It would not be in my best interests.

Now, I can only hope for the best -- that I can attend one of those top three choices this fall. If not, then I won't know what to do. For sure, I'll be crushed and bitter (at least initially) if I have to attend my safety school. But now, I'm just trying to remain positive, as I know that's so important as March approaches.

Good news, though, in all this bleakness. I found out yesterday that I got a 4.0 this fall! I hope USC counts this semester, I really do. That would strengthen my case for admission tremendously. I will call them tomorrow and hope they say, "Yes, we would like to see your mid-year report." (The UC system, unfortunately, does not count senior year -- dammit!) I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment b/c this year I did not work too hard for school at all -- I was wrapped up in all the college application-stuff. But I guess God was smiling down on me!

Another piece of good news...my dad came to school and happened to see my psychology/government teacher. The teacher said very good things about me and told my dad I would be brilliant in the area of psychology. I was so happy because my dad finally said he was proud of me. That meant so much to me.

Oh yeah, I'm extremely excited because soon my friends and I get to start on our community service project. We have chosen to work with impoverished children. I'm so looking forward to that -- children make my day! A simple innocent smile from them can make any bad day so much better. Aren't children the best?

Alright, my eyes are hurting and I have to catch up on my PMs/emails! Will update again soon!

I know you have decided not to apply to UA I thought I would offer you my information based on growing upt in Tucson and going to school for most of my life two blocks away from the campus, and my best friend going to USC. The schools are very similar, but one big difference I know of is the HUGE emphisis on money, clothes, etc. at USC. My friend loves her school, but she sometimes feels like its way to much pressure to dress well, party all the time, and get amazing grades. My friends boyfriend is in a frat there and he loves it, USC has a very active greek life and in that way it is very similar to UA. UA is a great school for many majors and its to bad your parents couldn't see past the sports image (ps go CATS!!) to see whats best for you. As someone who didn't end up at the school they thought they would, i had my heart set on NYU, or with people i thought i would, i never dreamed of being in a sorority, it will all work out in the end for the best. Your college education is what you make of it, it doesn't matter what school you go to or who you are friends with its you and only you, not your partents which creates and sustains your experience and ultimately your own happiness.

VERY GOOD ADVICE, tridgirl!

I am a USC alum (as most of you know) and oddly, I didn't feel TOO much pressure on the clothes money thing--but I went to a private prep school for high school, so perhaps I didn't notice it because I grew up with it--I've always been a serious clotheshorse anyway, so that's never been a problem, and I drove what was considered one of the 'right" cars--a VW Jetta. LOL

Academics at USC are VERY competitive, more so every year that passes.

I would suggest calling SCs admissions office and telling them about your grades and then regardless of whether they need them or not--SEND THEM, it can't hurt. I applied early decision (back in the days when they still had that!) so my fall grades weren't factored in, but for regular decision, if memory serves, they were.

Good Luck Car-- I so want to be able to welcome you to the Trojan family--you've got the spirit and drive to be a part of it!!! :D

Go Trojans! :)
Amy

I have been reading this thread with great interest. I am sorry that your parents will not let you attend the university of your choice. It is your life and you should make that decision in my opinion. However, please feel lucky that your parents are going to pay for your college education. I and many of my friends did not have that luxury and I am now in tons and tons of debt-it sucks. Sometimes I get so angry thinking about it that I start yelling at my mom and wondering why the f**k she and my father had never set up a college fund for my brother and I-we had plenty of money to do that so there was no excuse. I am slowly climbing out of debt and will hopefully have my school loans payed off within the next 2-3 years. It still makes me sooooo angry that I have to spend at least a third to half my salary saving to pay off these f**king loans. UGHHHHHH
sorry had to bitch a bit.

Good Luck and from reading your posts you sound like a very intelligent woman-I bet you get into all of the colleges and then have to choose which one you would most like to attend.

Newbie,

My advice is to not rule anything out and I would obtain financial aid information/student loans at UA or any out of state schools your interested in. Also, go to your bank. I agree with aggieaxo. I also had to get student loans and fortunately I paid them off two years after graduating. I didnt like the fact that they didnt pay but I just didnt have an option. Be thankful that you have choices. I actually got into Arizona State but because of the amt of out of state tuition my parents were not going to pay. I think if I would have done more leg work on the financial aid or some sort of student loan I might have had a chance. I think at the time Arizona St. was only willing to fork up 1000 dollars in scholarship to me but nonetheless I could have went there. However, that doesnt mean that I love my old school any less its just I only had certin options at the time.

See I did it in reverse== I chose to NOT go to the school that gave me a full 4 year scholarship -- the University of San Diego. Why? It reminded me too much of my high school -- small and catholic-- and my two best friends were going there and much as I loved and still love them, I felt I MUST strike out on my own.

So I chose the school that had quickly become my first choice after the campus visits I did with my Dad my senior year in high school-- USC. USC gave me a partial scholarship--which I promptly lost when I partied too much my freshman year and my grades SUCKED--so while my parents had agreed to cover the difference in the scholarship, other financial aid and the actual cost of USC-- I found myself suddenly out of my own irresponsibility having to pay for the portion that the scholarship covered myself. That was HARD, it still is HARD since I am still paying that off-- But it was 100% worth it and continues to be 100% worth it. So my path turned out to be a bit screwier and more difficult than I had anticipated-- I was still at the school I wanted to be at, the school I loved.

I had no choice of schools, there are only about 25 vet schools in the US and Texas A&M is the only one in Texas, luckily I was raised an aggie and love my school to this day, however if my mom had said if you go to such and such school and I will pay fully I may have gone to undergrad somewhere else-who knows.

Well, no real update, but just wanted to say that I'm happy USC accepts mid-year reports! Unfortunately the UCs don't.

Well, that's all for now...off to study for some big tests tomorrow.