He’s a senior and got into two of his three school choices. He also got a 75% scholarship. But now he wants to go to a local community college. I told him he is way better than that. That’s like deciding to work at TJ Maxx when you got a job offer at top hedge fund company.
He gave lots of reasons but I know it’s because I have cancer and he’s worried about my health and who will take care of our aging dog and his younger brother (my 8yo). I assure him that we will all be fine. He tells me that he knows that I don’t know that and therefore I’m lying to him.
I’m mad at him, he’s mad at me.
Comments
I think you should sit down and make a plan.
Emphasize that he’s being given an opportunity most teenagers in the U.S. would never get. He’s got an opportunity to set himself up for a tremendous head start with minimal in an increasingly unaffordable world.
He can always transfer and readjust later. This scholarship may never come back.
So make a 4 year plan. Plan out freshman year and contingencies should something change. Do the same for the subsequent years. Maybe this will ease his mind a bit.
I think you should sit down and honestly hear his perspective . Unfortunately at this point 100% at a community college for a full AA/S is likely still less expensive than 1 year of 75% off the 4 year; it could be the more efficient and resource effective route to getting an education. Whatever you decide in the end collectively should take the amount of debt he’d be responsible for , his interest in education/ long term goals , and what he’s is ultimately comfortable with into account. Beyond this it is worth researching if that scholarship can be deferred or if he could be eligible for other similar programs following CC.
Your son should take the scholarship and go to college. These institutions know that emergencies occasionally come up and they are well equipped to support their students. This support can include: facilitating pauses or deferment in attendance, providing special accommodations-including non-simultaneous and/or online attendance, and even additional financial support. This is done for their students; so, BE A STUDENT!
One way to help you and his brother would be to go to school, get a great education, a great job so he can help support your family.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with community college.