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I am from a middle income family. I currently have a job which I hate with a fiery passion. My parents refuse to let me quit, claiming that the money is needed for college. Is this true? Will my small income really help that much? Is it true that it could actually hurt me with financial aid? Thanks.

By Justin185 (Justin185) on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 03:08 pm: Edit

Colleges in general expect students to have jobs, at least during the summer, to help finance their education. I knew I student who had nothing saved up but his parents paid for everything. In my case, my parents pay for small things but I have to pay for the bulk of it. I buy my own school books and pay the remainder of my bursar bill after my loans have been apllied to my account. The loans are in my name so I will be paying those off as well.

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 04:32 pm: Edit

I believe schools do expect students to contribute $1,500 or so from summer jobs each year. FAFSA takes into account about 50% of student income as being available for tuition, 35% of parents income ( does that sound right?)

Even if your parents expect you to work, you should be able to find a job that you don't hate. even if you volunteer in a field that you are interested in to get work experience, it should be something you are doing for more than the money

By Televelis (Televelis) on Monday, December 29, 2003 - 11:39 pm: Edit

And doesn't CSS expect 100% of student income to be used?

By Gammon (Gammon) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 11:46 am: Edit

What if I want to continue studying during the summer (I know I could keep working, but not as much as they might estimate) or do some study abroad program?

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 - 12:05 pm: Edit

Well if you are not working to earn tuition during the summer, then you obviously will have to come up with some alternate ways of finding the money. Loans?
Rather than study abroad during the summer, I suggest either find a program that is concurrent with your school year and is the same as tuition or wait till you are done with school and work through something like Americorps that will give you a break from your loans, give you a living stipend and money to be used for loans at the end of your "volunteer" time.

By Freak4korn72 (Freak4korn72) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 12:30 am: Edit

35% of parents income and $1,500 from a summer job? Crap. We can only afford about 15% of my parents income and I dont make $1,500 from summer jobs, I only have $1,500 in my savings and I've made $6,400 in 15 months. Ugh. Minimum wage sucks.

I dont think im going to get enough finaid to go to cornell.. ack

By Emeraldkity4 (Emeraldkity4) on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 - 01:13 am: Edit

If you have been accepted to Cornell, your EFC should be met. This may include loans/grants/workstudy.

While it can be difficult for some families to come up with even the EFC, that amount is going to have to be covered whether you attend a school that meets 100% of need, or whether you attend a instate public university.
If my daughter attended an instate public U, our EFC was too high to qualify her for any need based money, and the merit aid offered was relatively small. The out of state public did offer more merit aid, but as the expense was proportionally more, the out of pocket cost was still high.
The private school had higher overall costs, but met 100% of need, and we all decided that taking out loans was worth what we considered to be a higher quality education than the public universities.
If your other choices are offering you large merit aid, that may be worth giving them a good look, but IMO Cornell is a good enough school to warrant consideration of slightly larger loans ( If that is what is offered) than you would consider otherwise.