Horrible situation =[ Please help!

[VespertineShade]

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Hi Guys,
I need lots of help it seems.
If you read my other thread, those are career issues.
This time it's money issues.

So here's the situation.
I had THE TALK with my parents about becoming an optometrist and as usual they were like HELL NO.
In FACT! They said that they would not pay for my college unless I became a family doctor (internal medicine) which I swear to god I will never EVER do.
I'm just not interested.

And soo... they wont pay for school. #1.
So you'd say. Why dont you take out a loan? ^.^
Yes I could. HOWEVER. For the loan to get approved at Sallie Mae, I need a cosigner = family member AND my parents dont want to sign because they dont want to be responsible.
NYIT tuition is almost 13 thousand a semester.
I would never be able to pay all of that off including optometry school.
+ interest no less!!
+ a dorm cuz now I have no place to live. =[

If anyone has advice, please help. PLEASE.

-VespertineShade

 

[VTECaddict]

Wow, your parents suck, WTF?

But who's to say you can't agree to go into medicine now and suddenly have a change of heart your last semester of your senior year in college? 🙄

 

[foreseen]

I mean no offense to you with my ideas, just trying to give you some options.

From reading your other thread, it seems that you are not really in love with optometry. You think you'll enjoy it but because you think it's easier than medical school, perhaps less scary? If this is the case, forget about optometry and go for medical school. You can end up a psychiatrist or something. That way you can get your parents to pay for school and be in a career where you don't have to deal with life and death situations everyday. Parents don't always know what's best, but you don't seem to be in a position to take care of yourself. I am willing to bet that med school would be a lot easier than trying to make it without the aid of your parents. You didn't think you're smart enough to get into med school, try stalling by applying and not getting in and eventually they'll give in! Meanwhile, work and make some money so you can become more independent.

Good luck

 

[KHE]

Hi Guys,


If anyone has advice, please help. PLEASE.

-VespertineShade

First and foremost, get a job.

After that, the first place to start would likely be your college financial aid office as I'm sure your situation is quite common.

I don't know where you live but one possibility would be to transfer to a CUNY school.

Another possibility would be to find another trusted relative to sign.

Start looking online and apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can.

Another choice would be a commitment to the armed services, they will pay for your optometry school tuition.

Another possibility is a commitment to IHS (www.ihs.gov) I don't know what they do for optometry, if anything these days but I know that they did have student loan forgiveness programs if you would commit to working "on the res" for some time after graduation.


**EDIT**

Check this link to IHS loan repayment programs:

http://www.ihs.gov/JobsCareerDevelop/DHPS/LRP/

 

[EyEnStein 07]

KHE is on point.

If your thinking NYIT...you are probably from NY...if your in NY, consider CUNY or SUNY, the tuition rate is a lot cheaper (cuny cheaper than suny) and if you show that you are in need then you get a lot of financial aid and stuff. If yours grades are good, apply for cuny honors programs, they are always free tuition + you get other benefits.

 

[IndianaOD]

First and foremost, get a job.

After that, the first place to start would likely be your college financial aid office as I'm sure your situation is quite common.

I don't know where you live but one possibility would be to transfer to a CUNY school.

Another possibility would be to find another trusted relative to sign.

Start looking online and apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can.

Another choice would be a commitment to the armed services, they will pay for your optometry school tuition.

Another possibility is a commitment to IHS (www.ihs.gov) I don't know what they do for optometry, if anything these days but I know that they did have student loan forgiveness programs if you would commit to working "on the res" for some time after graduation.


**EDIT**

Check this link to IHS loan repayment programs:

http://www.ihs.gov/JobsCareerDevelop/DHPS/LRP/

IHS or armed forces is a great idea in this case!

PS Your parents are awful but most OD students don't have parents footing the bill.

 

[Commando303]

We can call your parents awful all we want, but, of course, they're under no obligation to pay your way through school. If they're willing to listen and cosign for your loan, fine; if not, wait until you can take out a loan yourself.

 

[Arctic]

My opinion on your parents is that they are complete idiots. Needless to say, that doesn't help you at all. They do seem quite controlling, so I wonder how they'd react if you told them (possibly truthfully) that you're going to a SUNY school (which is what I'd suggest, especially considering I'm a graduate of SUNY Albany). The tuition is quite affordable, and you won't need your parents to cosign anything. Granted, my first year was kind of a drag (the classes were way too easy for me) but during my second year, and most definitely by my third year, I was taking some really great classes (in a variety of subjects, not just science) where I learned a lot! Many were quite challenging, but that's exactly what I wanted out of college anyway.

Please consider attending a SUNY school as a very real possibility; with regards to your career choice (i.e. the fact you currently show interest in optometry) don't worry about it at the moment, as this seems to be a much more immediate concern. I'm not disregarding the possibility of CUNY, but I don't have any personal experience with it, so I'll let others comment on that.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

My opinion on your parents is that they are complete idiots. Needless to say, that doesn't help you at all. They do seem quite controlling, so I wonder how they'd react if you told them (possibly truthfully) that you're going to a SUNY school (which is what I'd suggest, especially considering I'm a graduate of SUNY Albany). The tuition is quite affordable, and you won't need your parents to cosign anything. Granted, my first year was kind of a drag (the classes were way too easy for me) but during my second year, and most definitely by my third year, I was taking some really great classes (in a variety of subjects, not just science) where I learned a lot! Many were quite challenging, but that's exactly what I wanted out of college anyway.

Please consider attending a SUNY school as a very real possibility; with regards to your career choice (i.e. the fact you currently show interest in optometry) don't worry about it at the moment, as this seems to be a much more immediate concern. I'm not disregarding the possibility of CUNY, but I don't have any personal experience with it, so I'll let others comment on that.

In general i would say attend a SUNY if you can...CUNY only if you need to commute and money is really a big issue. I just feel unless your very smart (not many kids at CUNY are, but there are many), are in the honors program (highly beneficial, if you must come to cuny, try to come through honors), or have very good hookups through your professors....the growth potential is low.

 

[WhiteSnows]

Why don't you try to get accepted into the program first and then talk to your parents again? They may change their mind.