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I have a younger brother who will be entering his freshmen year of college next year. He wants to major in history, I think.
He had two choices...UCLA or Vassar University.
Only my mom works, but she is a doctor, and has a fairly large income, as she's good at what she does, and has been doing it for a long time. My dad was forced to retire early due to some retarded downsizing issues at UCI, where he was a research professor.
I go to UCR, and am a third year philosophy major there.
My brother wanted to go to Vassar very, very badly. My parents urged him to go to UCLA, as if that were the case, my parents' combined income and college savings would cover the costs of both our tuition and living expenses. If he were to choose Vassar, loans would have to be taken out, and my family would go into debt.
For an idea of the difference, Vassar College totals to around $51,000 per year in tuition alone. They are a liberal arts school specializing in humanities, and are ranked like 12 (I don't remember) in the nation among liberal arts colleges according to US News.
UCLA totals around ~$22,000-$24,000 per year in tuition alone. They are ranked 24 I think among national universities according to US News.
I don't know how they compare directly to each other, as I'd never even heard of Vassar until he applied for it, and they're on separate lists on that US News site.
In any case, he ended up fucking choosing Vassar. He got some random gift scholarship from the school and the tuition has been taken down to around $39,000, I think.
But in any case...WHAT THE FUCK.
My family will still have to take out student loans to help pay off his tuition. Keep in mind, I don't have a job right now (will have one in the summer, though), and due to me being a dumbass, I'm probably going to be here at UCR for two quarters into my fifth year.
I tried to talk to him about this, and told him to think REALLY hard about this. He basically threw a bitch fit and it didn't go anywhere. Both my parents tried to talk to him about it repeatedly...and still no go.
Add on top of that that we live in socal. UCLA is close, and so it'd be easier to send him food and whatnot. We would only be able to send him money, as Vassar is on the east fucking coast. In addition, we'll also have to pay for plane tickets going back and forth for holidays and whatnot.
This is seriously pissing me off. This shitty economy has sucked my area dry of jobs, and I've been out of work for the better part of a year. My parents somehow couldn't put their feet down and tell him to stop being a little bitch and go to the cheaper, and imo better, school.
I just don't fucking understand how stupid one can be...in my honest opinion, the choice is clear when there's a $25,000 FUCKING PRICE DIFFERENCE, no?
Thoughts?
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I was in exactly the same situation - I got into an East Coast school that I REALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLY wanted to go to, but I couldn't do it because of the price, so I chose UCSD. Although it sucks because it would have been a great opportunity to go to the East Coast... you have to realize that money matters, if he's dead set on the East Coast, tell him to wait for grad school.
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It's too late. He's already going to Vassar. T_T
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education is always worth the cost
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dude fuck it... let him go where he wants to go. also, why isn't he taking out the loans? That's normally how student loans work. One of my good friends goes to Vassar and loves it... I'm sure you're brother will have a great college experience.
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On May 08 2009 13:49 benjammin wrote: education is always worth the cost
This is true as long as the person is a decent student that is serious and cares about learning.
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On May 08 2009 13:49 benjammin wrote: education is always worth the cost Not when he could have gone to a better school (in my opinion) for less than half the cost.
This isn't education vs no education...it's putting your family in debt vs not putting your family in debt.
On May 08 2009 13:52 talismania wrote: dude fuck it... let him go where he wants to go. also, why isn't he taking out the loans? That's normally how student loans work. One of my good friends goes to Vassar and loves it... I'm sure you're brother will have a great college experience. No, I can't just "fuck it"...because this seriously affects me too. My parents pay for my college tuition and most of my living expenses.
We WILL have to take out student loans to send him to Vassar. The issue is that had he chosen UCLA, there would have been no need to take out loans in the first place.
Quite honestly, he's being a selfish little bitch.
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why would you spend that much more money going to a priv uni and major in history lol -_-
1) waste of tuition money 2) shitty future employment/income
its a double blow
and your brother does not know what hes missing out by passing over UCLA -_-
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Tell him he's paying for it, problem solved.
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I don't understand, why would it be a family debt? I mean I'm all for the guy going to the school that he wants to go as long as he actually feels that it's the right school for him. The experience and the environment that you'll be spending the next four years in is a pretty big deal. However, the point I don't agree on is why is it your parent's duty to pay for that education? They have enough to pay 20k a year, do that. It's not like students can't take out loans, it's not like he can't work while he studies. I go to UCB and I'm working to pay for my rooming and tuition. I don't feel that it's the parent's responsibility to pay for your education, especially when they explicitly stated that they don't' have enough to cover it. The 60k debt he'll have at the end of his school career can be paid off over some years after he gets a job.
On a completely different note, private schools tend to have more scholarships and grants. It wouldn't be a bad idea for your brother to look into them more deeply to see if there are some that he is qualified for but didn't apply for. There's always fastweb.com
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On May 08 2009 13:49 benjammin wrote: education is always worth the cost
not if you're majoring history lol elite schools are only worth it for certain fields
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On May 08 2009 14:02 Fr33t wrote: Tell him he's paying for it, problem solved. Ding. I'd have your family pay what they would have paid for him to go to UCLA and tell your brother to come up with the rest if he wants to go to a more expensive school.
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My parents are already paying for mine, so it'd be pretty dick of them to not pay for his.
Besides that, they're very nice and generous parents...to the point that they still don't want me to get a job at this point so I can keep my focus on my studies. My brother is an immature retard. By his age, I'd already worked two jobs. He's never worked a day in his life, and as far as I know, doesn't understand the value of money at all.
On May 08 2009 14:01 paper wrote: why would you spend that much more money going to a priv uni and major in history lol -_-
1) waste of tuition money 2) shitty future employment/income
its a double blow
and your brother does not know what hes missing out by passing over UCLA -_- I KNOW, RIGHT??
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"we'll pay for you to go to UCLA, you can pay to go to Vassar"
game over
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I think UCLA would be a better choice for him.
I've taken classes at different colleges and universities, and what I've learned is this:
Just about any university is good enough. It's all about what you put into it. The expensive colleges are basically a name brand, though there may be some networking opportunities.
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On May 08 2009 14:09 decafchicken wrote: "we'll pay for you to go to UCLA, you can pay to go to Vassar"
game over ^This is what I would do if I were you parents.
But seriously, both are fucking insane expensive. My tuition is only ~$4200, what the fuck.
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I fucking hate people who seem to think the school they go to defines them. Unless you're going to the top school, like Harvard, it doesn't really matter.
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Omg rich people problems lol....diamond shoes too tight? wallet too small for your 100's? jesus if your parents cant afford to send him to Vassar...then they shouldnt....People can say no.....poor kid would have to settle for UCLA spoiled little shits like this are a waste of space...draining their parents for everything....whats almost as bad are the parents that dont have enough backbone to say no...only in America. Tell your brother to get a job and help out. And if hes gona waste peoples money to go to an elite school...at least pick a real major.
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On May 08 2009 14:03 aznmathfreak wrote: I don't understand, why would it be a family debt? I mean I'm all for the guy going to the school that he wants to go as long as he actually feels that it's the right school for him. The experience and the environment that you'll be spending the next four years in is a pretty big deal. However, the point I don't agree on is why is it your parent's duty to pay for that education? They have enough to pay 20k a year, do that. It's not like students can't take out loans, it's not like he can't work while he studies. I go to UCB and I'm working to pay for my rooming and tuition. I don't feel that it's the parent's responsibility to pay for your education, especially when they explicitly stated that they don't' have enough to cover it. The 60k debt he'll have at the end of his school career can be paid off over some years after he gets a job.
On a completely different note, private schools tend to have more scholarships and grants. It wouldn't be a bad idea for your brother to look into them more deeply to see if there are some that he is qualified for but didn't apply for. There's always fastweb.com
He brings up a good point.
And thanks for the fastweb url, I didn't know about that site until now.
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On May 08 2009 14:28 iSCOUT4me wrote:Omg rich people problems lol....diamond shoes too tight? wallet too small for your 100's? jesus if your parents cant afford to send him to Vassar...then they shouldnt....People can say no.....poor kid would have to settle for UCLA spoiled little shits like this are a waste of space...draining their parents for everything....whats almost as bad are the parents that dont have enough backbone to say no...only in America. Tell your brother to get a job and help out. And if hes gona waste peoples money to go to an elite school...at least pick a real major. Don't make accounts when you are banned.
They will find you.
And ban you.
Maybe permanently.
So don't do it.
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